Decanter talks to sommelier Johan Anderson about the best wines he's ever tasted and the funniest thing that's happened on the job. As published in Decanter's March 2013 issue.
Johan Andersson is head sommelier for Mathias Dahlgren Restaurants, Grand Hôtel Stockholm, Södra Blasieholmshamnen 6, SE 103 27 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel: +46 (0)8 679 35 84; mdghs.com
What’s your earliest wine memory?
I was not more than 12 years old. I remember my dad drinking Black Tower from that black bottle. It got me excited and I always wanted to pull the cork.
What bottle stopped you in your tracks and got you serious about wine?
I’ve tasted a lot of good red Burgundy. But Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s La Tâche 2006 absolutely blew my mind. After that, nothing was the same.
Since then, what’s the best wine you’ve ever drunk and why?
Philippe Jambon’s Les Baltailles 2005 is an amazing wine that is fermented for six years without any additives. Beautiful!
What’s the funniest thing that has happened on the job?
One night there was a peaceful buzz in the dining room with about 10 guests left. Then a table of two, a lady and gentleman, stood up to leave. I was back in the kitchen when I heard a huge commotion. I ran out to find one of our staff lying on the floor crying with laughter. It turned out that the gentleman had broken wind so loudly all the way from the table to the door that the whole room stopped. Hilarious!
Have you ever served anyone famous, and if so, who and what?
Canadian actor Christopher Plummer was my favourite. He is a true gentleman who had our tasting menu together with some good glasses of Meursault.
What’s the most annoying customer habit?
Customers that order a really good bottle of white wine and then complain it is too warm and they want it chilled to at least 6°C. So many people don’t understand that good white wine should not be served ice cold.
What wines are you buying for personal consumption at the moment?
Natural wines – no other wines give me such enjoyment to drink.
Written by Decanter
