Wine tips from Kim Choukri

Kim Choukri Kim’s father was a chef, so Kim more-or-less “grew up” in a kitchen, and today he lives according to the motto that “good plus good equals really good!” Kim’s interest in wine started to develop as soon as he was old enough. After completing his training as a sommelier, he spent ten years working in restaurants as a waiter and sommelier. Since autumn 2002, however, he has worked in sales for Johan Lidby Vinhandel (wine merchants). On this page, Kim presents his favourites from the Johan Lidby Vinhandel range, which are all available from Systembolaget stores. For additional information, call in at www.johanlidbyvinhandel.se.

Organic and biodynamic!

Chablis Domaine de la Boissoneuse – 2006 (#5624)
Jean-Marc & Julien Brocard, France, SEK 147
Appearance: A clear wine with a golden hue.
Bouquet: Generously fruity with a typical smoky mineral tone. Intensive, complex and tight at the same time.
Taste: Very fruity, with a wholesome structure and minerality. Hints of citrus, pear and oyster shell.

The grapes are grown in the southern part of the town of Préhy in a particularly distinctive Kimmeridgien soil, which produces taut and mineral-rich Chablis wines. 2006 was not a particularly easy year for the Chablis growers – warm spells mixed with cooler periods and a great deal of work was required in the vineyards. However, if the grapes were harvested at the right time and carefully selected, conditions were perfect for wines of the highest calibre, with a fruity and classic style. This Boissoneuse initially presents a generous fruitiness which subsequently gives way to its distinctive backbone of acidity and minerality.

Complex and finely balanced!

Gigondas Cuvée Tradition – 2005 (#2732)
Domaine Santa Duc, Rhône, France, SEK 175
Appearance: Purple-red and youthful with high intensity.
Bouquet: Complex, young and deep with hints of minerals, dark berries and fresh herbs.
Taste: Finely balanced and focused; tight, with a strong concentration of youthful acidity balanced with fruitiness. A taste rich in minerals, with tones of ripe, dark berries, flowers and fresh herbs. A long and very pronounced after-taste.

The grapes were hand-cut from vines with an average age of 40 years, and were harvested “whole” – i.e. with their stalks. 2005 is generally considered a very good year for the entire Rhône valley, distinguished by fine wines with an excellent structure and balance. These wines can both be drunk young and laid down for several years. This predominantly Grenache wine is the result of a long period of growth that demanded a good deal of work in the vineyard. Together with the warm days and cool nights of the autumn, this has produced a very complex wine with an excellent balance between fruit and acid, as well as a wonderful structure and a fantastic freshness!

Domaine Santa Duc has been producing wines for four generations and is currently run by Yves Gras. Today Yves is considered – in France and internationally – one of the leading viniculturalists in the Rhône region, and his entire production for this year has been sold in advance.

This summer’s hit!

Bourgogne Pinot Noir Rosé – 2007 (Item number in the order range as from 1 June: 74488-01)
Domaine Ste Claire, Jean-Marc Brocard, France, SEK 99
Appearance: Pink.
Bouquet: Large and intensive, with generous fruitiness and elegant tones of Pinot Noir.
Taste: Dry, fresh and fruity with youthful hints of strawberries and raspberries. A long, fruity after-taste that is rich in minerals.

The grapes for this wine stem from the small town of St. Bris le Vineux, which is located 10 km west of Chablis. 2006 was a year where warm spells alternated with cool periods. The winter was cold and the spring was warm. Things looked bad for the harvest, but the conditions improved in September and the final result was a mature and balanced vintage with clear traces of both minerality and fruit.
In Sweden, Jean-Marc Brocard has become one of the best known and most respected Chablis producers. For example, he was awarded the title of Viniculturalist of the Year by the presigious Swedish gourmet magazine Vin & Mat in both 1998 and 2001.

The château philosophy is to highlight the unique soil of the Chablis region. For this reason, oak casks are never used in the production process. Instead, all efforts are put into allowing the grapes to transfer the personality of the soil to the wine.