 |
| 2010 Octagon |
A Bottle for a "Special Evening" Red
'topher came for dinner the other night, and we were terribly excited to be at the end of the winter stockpile. All that was left worth drinking with our dinner was the Barboursville 2010 Octagon. Named after the building that is on site at their property in Colonial Charlottesville, The Octagon is the winery's premier bottle, and held up pretty well, given my cheapy little wine cooler isn't exactly the finest storage unit in the world.
2010 Octagon
Barboursville Winery
- Charlottesville, Va.
- Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot
- 14.3%
- $58 at Wegman's Supermarket, Ashburn, Va.
- purchased summer 2014
- consumed April 2, 2016
Now I've spent some time travelling with 'topher, and he's my go-to when drinking fine, expensive wine now that KoKo lives in Catonsville. (Insert Sad Panda Emoticon here). 'topher's palette knows what it's talking about and even when I'm not sure where the wine is going as it opens up, he knows how to appreciate the wine as it expresses in the glass over time.
 |
| 'topher and I kickin' it at Chimney Rock |
 |
| Pic from the Chem Lab at Chimney Rock |
And though we began with a rich plate of Castelveltranos, double-creme brie, Tempranillo jam, and a really fine olive bread, we decided the wine needed time after a starter sip. So we swifly moved to a bottle of Gustav Lorentz Pinot Blanc. After a pair of glasses there, we meandered back to the table.
Would this journey into a Virginia Bordeaux-blended red be worth the price? Worth the trouble?
 |
| 'topher raising a glass to our lunch hostess at Pride Mountain |
 |
| Back to the Barboursville |
Oh my...I'm veeeeeeered waaaaaaaay off topic. Yes, again...the review of the Octagon.
Here's our notes from the dinner. The 2010 Octagon was served with a supper made of three primary plats, small sides. A chicken thigh, a small portion of fresh pasta with fresh tomato, and a saladette.
- Martha Stewart's Parm-stuffed Lemon Zest Chicken
- Fresh Pasta made in a fresh tomato sauce with tomatoes I'd canned last summer
- And a gorgeous farmers market salad with L'Auberge Chez Francois dressing
The first glass had a nice fragrance. We decanted 1 hour before sitting down. This dry red wasn't particularly bold or high in alcohol, despite 2010 being a hot summer. The wine really changed its shape once we drank it with the main meal. The wine did not particularly go well with the appetizers mentioned earlier in the blogpost. However, more was to come...
When the wine mixed in the mouth with the skin of the chicken (stuffed with panko, parm, red pepper, and lemon zest), the mouthful took on a smokey-ness that was beyond expectation. The wine kicked the entire meal up a notch. Smoke, tobacco, smooth tannins, and a really pleasant mouthfeel. For $58 a bottle, you would expect no less, I realize. But I have to admit, I have no compunction about spending this kind of money on a wine that can accentuate and surprise when served with the main.
When the wine mixed in the mouth with the skin of the chicken (stuffed with panko, parm, red pepper, and lemon zest), the mouthful took on a smokey-ness that was beyond expectation. The wine kicked the entire meal up a notch. Smoke, tobacco, smooth tannins, and a really pleasant mouthfeel. For $58 a bottle, you would expect no less, I realize. But I have to admit, I have no compunction about spending this kind of money on a wine that can accentuate and surprise when served with the main.
So often, reds will be so palatable that you'll chug them with the melty brie or salty cheeses and olives, but this one you want to wait for. So splurge a little. Skip the macchiatos this month, and get to Wegman's for a bottle of "special evening red."
___________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment
Leave your comments here: