Divine, a Swedish importer, held a tasting with many of the wines from their range. I have followed Divine’s journey for many years, and like so many others, am very grateful that they offer us in Sweden a range of wines of not only fantastic quality, but also wines that are otherwise completely impossible to get, and also at a good price.
Gunnar usually asks me how much I paid for Sine Qua Non in the USA, and he is always so happy that Divine’s prices are below the prices there.
This is a report with the wines I tried. It was a smaller selection, but many interesting wines.
White wines
Gosset Grande Réserve
Champagne, France
55 euro ( (*) all prices are approximate Swedish prices excluding VAT )
chardonnay 45%, pinot noir 45%, pinot meunier 10%
I’m not usually very impressed with Gosset, but this was a really good wine.
Big fruit, bready notes, generous.
A lush wine, and for quality against price still affordable, especially for a NV.
Mâcon-Igé Les Vernayes 2022, Bret Brothers
Mâcon-Igé, Burgundy, France
27 euro (*)
Chardonnay 100%
On the nose, citrus.
In the mouth fresh acidity, good balance, clear and good fruit. Wonderful acidity. Very affordable for the quality.
Clos Chaise Dieu Monopole Blanc 2018, Domaine Philippe le Hardi
Burgundy, France
30 euro (*)
Chardonnay 100%
About to switch to vintage 2022. If you like wines with maturity, it is best to look for vintage 2018.
On the nose wonderful maturity. Elegance. Oak barrel.
In the mouth fantastic maturity.
Very good value considering the age.
Trimbach Réserve Riesling 2021
Alsace, France
31 euro (*)
Riesling 100%
On the nose, very typical Riesling with petroleum, citrus and a little mineral. In the mouth, fresh acidity and good fruit.
Some maturity. Lively!
Nivarius Tempranillo Blanco 2024, Bodegas Nivarius
Rioja, Spain
No. 7894501, BS
16 euro (*)
Tempranillo blanco 100%
Good fruit, very aromatic on the nose.
Big and full-bodied. A food wine. A lot of wine for the money.
Bodegas Nivarius Edition Limitada 2020
Rioja, Spain
22 euro (*)
Maturana blanca 100%
Great aroma. Intense, aromatic. Shows maturity.
In the mouth, fat, big, and with maturity. Very good and affordable.
Pazo do Mar Veiga da Princesa 2024
Rías Baixas, Spain
21 euro (*)
albariño 100%
Aromatic and big on the nose. Nutty tone.
Very aromatic in the mouth. Big body, big fruit, nice acidity. A lots of wine for the money.
Blankbottle Empire Strikes Back 2021
Stellenbosch, South Africa
26 euro (*)
Verdelho from two different places, roussanne, marsanne, viognier and chenin blanc
Very odd wine, exciting. Good maturity, already now. Odd in a good way. Flavourful. Has good fruit. Exciting, and delicious. Very good value, and a fun blind tasting wine.
Kuntz Auslese Scharz Riesling 2009, Sybille Kuntz Weingut
Mosel, Germany
60 euro (*)
100% riesling
Wonderful maturity. An absolutely fantastic riesling, original. Slim and elegant. In the mouth a little sweetness. Fresh, nice acidity. Ripeness and again, elegance.
A fantastically good price for such an elegant and mature wine.
Red wines
Felton Road Macmuir Pinot Noir 2023
Central Otago, New Zealand
64 euro (*)
100% pinot noir
On the nose, very typical pinot noir. Elegance. A little barrel character.
In the mouth, full-bodied, again archetypical pinot noir. Elegant. Fresh acidity. Still young, but very promising, great potential.
A really good Felton Road.
Blankbottle My Koffer 2023
Breedkloof, South Africa
33 euro (*)
100% cinsault
Raspberry in abundance. Light on the foot. Lingon
In the mouth, again light. Good fruit. Very atypical South Africa, more Zoo Collective than traditional SA.
Pete’s Pure Pinot Noir 2024
Murray Darling, Australia
16 euro (*)
100% pinot noir
A completely unknown producer to me.
The wine had aromas of raspberry. Light, elegant. Floral tones, complexity.
In the mouth also light and elegant. Really gorgeous! And incredibly value.
Bodegas Familia Valdelana
Then I came across the surprise of the day: Familia Valdelana. As far as I can remember, I haven’t heard of them before.
But what wines!
Valdelana Viñedos Singulares White 2021, Bodegas Familia Valdelana
Rioja, Spain
38 euro (*)
Calagraño, garnacha blanca, malvasia, maturana blanca, viura
Elegance and complexity. What a wine.
Light. Nutty tone.
Big in the mouth, wonderfully flavourful and complex. Elegance. Incredible value considering the quality.
Juan Valdelana Viñedos Singulares Red 2021, Bodegas Familia Valdelana
Rioja, Spain
38 euro (*)
Garnacha, graciano, mazuelo, tempranillo, viura
These vines are pre-phylloxera.
Big fruit. Elegance. Blackberries. So pretty.
Big fruit again in the mouth. Wonderful balance. Fantastic elegance. An absolutely incredible wine, so complex and stylish.
