Swedish wine importer Johan Lidby Vinhandel organized a tasting of their range. BKWine Magazine’s Henrik Stadler was there.
It was a very broad range of mainly wine but also prosecco, champagne, cognac and other fine drinks when Johan Lidby Vinhandel presented thirty of its partners. Producers from Australia, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Germany, USA and Austria were represented during a very well attended tasting. I tasted a dozen different producers and here are my favorites!
Domaine Marcel Diess from Alsace presented its entire organic range with several real goodies where a 2013 Langenberg was my absolute favorite. With a grape blend of mainly riesling, but also pinot gris, pinot beurot (pinot gris), muscat and pinot noir the wine has a complexity with minerality and a touch of lemon and white flowers that will fit really well with white asparagus and grilled fish.
Burgundy producer Olivier Leflaive showed a variety of products from the Cote de Beaune and Cote Chalonnaise in an elegant style with finesse and complexity. My favorite was a conventionally grown Meursault 2011 from chardonnay. The wine was smooth on the palate with a nuttiness that felt perfect for seafood.
From Languedoc Laurent Miquel in St. Chinian offered a wide range of both red, white and rosé. My top wine was an affordable 2015 Laurent Miquel Pere et Fils Syrah Grenache which was intensely fruity and had a light tone of licorice and the whole garrigue palette, which at least puts me in a good mood.
Among the suppliers from the Rhone Valley it was Domaine Santa Duc that made the best impression. Their 2013 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues was magnificent. Spicy, as appropriate for a wine from The Rhone Valley, with an astringent feeling and long finish, it’s great for the Easter lamb.
The Loire Valley was, among others, represented by Domaine Bonnet-Huteau that showed a very delicious 2012 Goulaine Muscadet Sevre et Maine made from old and organically grown melon de Bourgogne (muscadet) grapes. Very fresh taste of citrus and some tropical fruit.
Hirsch Vineyards from the Sonoma Coast in the USA showed a number of good pinot noirs. I was particularly charmed by their 2013 Hirsch East Ridge Pinot Noir. It has a smooth feeling with a lot of dark red fruits, like cherries and plums.
Among the Austrian producers, I particularly liked Weingut Umathum. They grow their grapes on the east and west sides of Lake Neusiedlersee. The Central European grape sankt laurent is used by Umathum including in the very popular 2010 Umathum Von Stein. The wine has therefore an intense ruby red appearance with a taste of red berries and some chocolate. With its soft spiciness and long aftertaste I like a glass of this with for example barbecued ribs.
Among the Italians, I was impressed by a prosecco from Azienda Agricola Le Manzane. They showed a variety of proseccos, where it was very easy to like Springo Bronze Rive di Manzana Prosecco Superiore with aromas of apple and spring flowers and a slightly bready taste with some length. So do like me, order a few bottles.
Spirits producer Delamain Cognac was represented with a small table and presented different versions that were all absolutely delicious. If you get the opportunity, I can say that their Delamain EXTRA lives up to its name and is something very special!
All products imported by Johan Lidby Vinhandel, www.johanlidbyvinhandel.se.
Henrik Stadler writes för BKWine Magazine on wine tastings and wine events in Sweden.
