Octavin DC Tasting

So last night I was fortunate enough to attend a tasting of the Octavin Home Wine Bars in Washington DC.  While I have sampled a few of them before, I was able to taste the whole range of wines that they’re offering in this new packaging.  The event was hosted by Cork’d and we were able to meet the wine maker of the Big House Red and White – Georgetta Dane.

The first wine I tasted was the Monthaven Chardonnay.  I’d had this one before and it was exactly as I remembered – a touch of oakiness on the finish, but a fairly straight forward California Chardonnay that will pair well with chicken and pasta with cream sauce.  Next up was the other white I had already sampled, the Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc.  It doesn’t feature as much grapefruit as a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, but it’s still crisp and refreshing with good citrus flavors and is great for hot summer days.

Next up was the first wine I hadn’t tried before – the Big House White.  A blend of Malvasia Bianca (51%), Muscat Canelli (14%), Viognier (13%), Gruner Veltliner (10%), Pinot Gris (5%), and Riesling (4%) the wine showed the Viognier on the nose with a very floral aroma.  Tropical fruits on the palate made it a refreshing wine and one that would definitely pair well with seafood.

Moving over to the reds we started with the Big House Red (which I’m not going to list all the varietals in…there are just too many.  You can check out my previous post on it here).  A good table wine that would be perfect for a quick glass after a long day of work and for blending in with pasta sauces while cooking, none of the varietals really stand out, making it seem to have a single note, but it’s still a good table wine.

Next up was the one that I was probably looking forward to the most, the Seven.  A blended Spanish wine of Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Merlot (25%), Syrah (18%), Petit Verdot (8%), Tempranillo (8%), Grenache (8%), and Graciano (8%), there was a nice berry flavor with good tannins and a robustness that I found enjoyable and certainly made me want to pair it with some grilled red meat.

Finally was the Boho Old Vine Zinfandel.  Jammy is the best way to describe this wine, and it lacked the usual spice and pepper that I associated with Zinfandel.  That being said, this is a BBQ wine through and through.  If you’re making ribs for a summer cook-out, this is a good go-to wine.

All in all I had a great evening, the wines were all enjoyable, the location was spectacular, and the staff was incredibly helpful.  I want to thank Cork’d for hosting the event, and Lima Restaurant and Lounge for your amazing service.