We’re gonna Sauv your Blanc off

If it pleases and sparkles, sunshine

Sparkling wine is always a fun time, and tonight was not an exception. It made some of us slap the bass and others eat the pizza. All in all, my wine came in last, but no tears have been shed yet. Check out the reviews below:

1st place: 2007 Chateau Guadrelle Vouvray Brut
Descriptors included: dustbuster, mandarin orange, and lychee. Eric is elated that the top two wines came from the Loire Valley tonight, and he says this has a finish of, “granny smith apple”. I think Jolly Ranchers. Tasty.

2nd place: A. Simoneau Touraine Brut 100% Chenin Blanc
Yet another Chenin Blanc from the Loire showing strongly. Marshmellows, bacon, beach, and gummy bears. Despite the outlandish and moderately snobbish tasting notes, this wine is solid and could hold its own against… well… other wines. A finish of flowers lingers flowingly through Floridian flamingos.

3rd place: Graham Beck Brut 53% Chardonnay 47% Pinot Noir
South African goodness. Stinky shoes, graham crackers (coincidence? I think not), and more green apple Jolly Ranchers. We eat that shit up. Solid.

4th place: Mountain Dome Brut
This wine sparked some debate. The only Washington entry of the night, this was tasted last week in Wines of the World class which three of the night’s tasters are in. They claim large variation, with aromas ranging from meatballs to soccer balls. Any sort of ball, and it’s probably spot on. Oh, and it’s yeasty.

5th place: 2007 Vida Organica Chardonnay Mendoza
Argentina comes through, finishing the night how they started the 20th century: in last. I like this wine, and I feel horrible that it was not loved by my peeps tonight. Actually all of the wines were solid, but this may have been the shakiest of them all. Yeast, French toast, and Heather’s vegan grandmother hit the nose. Woot.

The next Cork Dorks United is on March 7 and will feature the infamous wine and chocolate pairings.

The Loire Valley: In Your Face!

I have noticed a certain lack of my own presence in the written portion of what is probably the worlds best wine blog in the world. I have a monster ego so this can not go on. I would like to share with you (my cherished readers) my thoughts on a wine region in a little country called France. I am not talking about Bordeaux or Burgundy or the Rhone. I would like to tell you a tale of the Loire valley.

The Loire valley filled with beautiful chateaux and awesome landscape is home to some of the most looked over wines of France. These wines generally do not have a mammoth price tag and yet can be quite pleasant if not totally f****** awesome (pardon my French). Wait you mean you can get French wine of good quality for a good price. Yes, yes you can.

I read all to often of wine writers talking a whole lot of smack about the Loire for having a poor climate for growing grapes and therefore making some less than stellar wines, and yet I often find myself opening a a bottle of a Savennieres, Vouvray, Sancerre, or any type of Cabernet France you can find (as it is the main red varietal grown in the Loire) and saying to myself “thats a notably epic wine”. I mean if you don’t like big opulent wines with a slight kick of some pyrazine’s then by all means don’t pay attention to what I say at all, but you will be missing out on a unique and possibly life altering wine experience.

sorry for what was probably a painful read, but I am not much of a writer.

Council of Vouvray

2006 Marc Bredif Vouvray ~$19

This Chenin Blanc from the Loire tricked a few folks tonight with a couple guesses of Riesling and one of Pinot Gris. The nose is somewhat lacking in intensity, although Eric says it’s “like walking through a garden”. While subtle, the aroma is much more pleasing than watching re-runs of Frasier. My issue with the wine is the balance between sugar and acid, which is crucial with off-dry whites such as most Vouvrays. The sweetness is just a little bit too high causing the wine to be somewhat flabby. Not flabby like Jared pre-Subway-diet, but more like Jay Leno. Still a good Chenin Blanc, a grape which is often overlooked and underrated.

Eric’s score: 91
Mike’s score: 89
Steven’s score: 89 (unblind)
Jason’s score: 87

Council of Variable Members score: 89

No witty remarks here tonight – just another solid white wine from Northern France. Why anyone would buy a California Chardonnay instead of this blows my brain. “Who let the dogs out?” – Eric.