I spend two hours tasting through the Swedish importer Divine´s assortment, or, in all fairness, a tiny part of their range, I just managed to taste ca 30 wines.
Here are the highlights. Point are given with an approximate score, since I only spend a minute or two with each wine.
The Whites
The 2014 Kick on Ranch Riesling, Ojai is a cool, fresh American Riesling with lots of finesse (~91p). Another Riesling, the 2015 Zöbing from Hirsch shows a spicy, grassy nose and a fine taste with white peppers and lime (~89p).
The 2014 Angosto Blanco with its interesting mix of Verdejo, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat is a winner, with a cool, fresh nose with ripe tangerines and a fine taste with character, and a price tag of 13 Euro (~88p).
Another interesting mix, and a great wine, is the 2014 Arbe Garbe, which is made out of Tocia Friu, Malvasia and Ribolla, and shows a deep, smoky, complex nose with a great dense mouthfeel and presence. Buying! (~93p).
Two Chardonnay´s caught my interest - The Puerta del Mar, Ojai, this time in vintage 2014, and always delivering a cool, fresh, intense Chardonnay with a steely. lemony taste (~91p. On the other hand, the 2013 Ritchie, Ramey, is a more rich, fat Chardonnay that keeps all things together and is just gorgeous (~93p).
The Reds
Pinot! Who doesn´t love a sensuous Pinot? These caressed my palate the right way.
2014 Santa Barbara Pinot Noir, Ojai exhibit a warm, chalky nose and a spicy, forest floor taste with a fine balance (~89p). A step up is the 2014 Russian River Pinot Noir, Lynmar Estate with is extrovert, concentrated nose and tight, focused palate (~92p). Almost as good, the 2015 Shea Pinot Noir, Ken Wright displays a sweet, herbal nose and a lingering, forest floor taste (~91p).
Best of the American Pinot´s was the 2014 Southing Pinot Noir, Sea Smoke. I have always liked the wines from this estate, and this was no exception, with its lovely perfumed nose and silky yet intense taste (~94p). One for the cellar.
From New Zeeland, the 2014 Burn Cottage Pinot Noir, could almost compete with the Sea Smoke. But why compete, I want them both! A deep, spicy, multi layered nose and a delicious, complex taste (~93p).
Next up, some Piemonte wines - the 2015 Barbera d´Alba Ornati, Parusso has a berry, open nose with lots of raspberries and a young, fruity taste with a fine acidity (~89p). The 2012 Barolo, Parusso has a warm, dusty nose and a tight, somewhat mute taste. From a newly opened bottle, this needs air, but for now (~88p). From the great 2004 vintage the Barolo Riserva Essenze, Vite Colte is poured and shows a deep, somewhat mature nose with lots of mushrooms and dried red fruits. The taste is dry and vigorous with fine cherry fruit and lots of dry liquorice (~91p).
I of course tasted the two bottles from Blankbottle, but is was the same vintages as tasted in the autumn of 2016, and they behaved the same, so read all about it here!
To finish things of I headed to the table were Paolo Paffi poured wines from the Casa Emma estate.
The 2013 TuBe is a simple everyday drinking Sangiovese with a nice acidity (~86p). The 2014 Chianti Classico is a pure, classic Chianti with real charm and finesse (~91p). Deeper but also a tad more restrained is the 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva and it will need some years in the cellar (~90p). As good as the Riserva is the 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, with a refined nose and a seedy, cherry flavoured taste (~90p).
Their 2012 Soloio is a interesting Super Tuscan, a 100% Merlot which they have been making since 1982. The 2012 version has a deep, plummy, spicy nose and a rich, velvety palate with lots of vigour and class (~92p).
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