Long-Awaited Cork Dorks Report

Due to five days without internet the report on last week’s Cork Dorks United event is largely overdue. Tonight I remedy this situation.

In continuing with the tradition, Cork Dorks of 2010 which do not involve a free dinner remain very poorly attended. For this reason, CDU meetings are now open to all readers of the blog who can establish a physical presence in Walla Walla on the appropriate night. Last Sunday a few of us enjoyed three white wines of great diversity. We should get mad tax breaks from this one.

1st Place: 2009 Evan Lewandowski Tocai Friulano & Arneis

I suppose this requires some explaining. On my Sonoma trip I stopped into a place called Quivira, and it just so happened that the assistant winemaker had spent some time in Walla Walla. He sent me home with a couple of bottles of his own wine — a 50/50 blend of Friulano and Arneis grown in what I want to say is Mendocino County, but don’t quote me on that. This wine was so interesting and mystical that it managed to beat out… well… two other white wines. It’s unfined, unfiltered, full malo-lactic, early-picked goodness, and I’m ok with that.

2nd Place: 2007 Woodward Canyon Chardonnay

This wine definitely suffered from Walla Wallan ABC tendencies. Despite being a Chardonnay the wine is quite acceptable, and I had to give it the nod over Eric’s Wisconsin wine even if I really tried to like that better. This wine is voluptuous, unctuous, decadent, and slutty. It deserves some respect for being a very nice wine, but its style is not something any members of the tasting panel are accepting of.

3rd Place: 2008 Wollersheim “Prairie Fume” Seyval Blanc

First of all, I must respect the witty “Prairie Fume” title given to this wine. It’s humorously far removed from a Pouilly-Fume, and I have to wonder how many consumers of this wine understand the reference. My bet is on fewer than those who actually spent money to see Dumb and Dumberer in theaters. There are a few problems with the wine. The first is that after some online research I have discovered that the grapes were grown in New York. The second is that the wine is just finished too sweet, but maybe that caters to the Midwest palate (no offense, Indiana). Regardless, it’s still better than Muscadine sparkling wine being sold as American Champagne in North Carolina, and it was a pretty solid accompaniment to Scott’s spicy chicken curry. I finally returned his Tupperware, too.

The next Cork Dorks United has yet to be conceived due to the Terroirists Birthday Bash which will be held on April 17. Good wines and better beer is sure to be involved.