Pre-Dinner Reception with Geoff Labitzke from 5:45 to 6:30

Dinner starts promptly at 6:30 both nights

$59.50 + tax and gratuity

RSVP: (619) 295-3939

Wine Vault & Bistro is pleased to announce a special Bordeaux seminar and dinner featuring Geoff Labitzke as the keynote speaker.  Geoff is one of only 27 Masters of Wine in the U.S.  He is also the import manager and education director for a national wine importer, a job that requires multiple annual trips to Bordeaux.  (Yeah, I know, tough job.)

Anyway, Geoff will be here to share his extensive knowledge about Bordeaux as you eat your way through a delicious multi-course dinner paired with Bordeauxs personally selected by Geoff.  We'll be pouring a Champagne, a white Bordeaux, and four red Bordeauxs from the highly acclaimed 2005 vintage.  It should be a wonderful evening of picking a true master's brain while enjoying some fine wines paired with some great food.  We hope you'll be able to join us!  Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested.  Here's the line-up:

Oyster on the Half Shell | Watermelon Mignonette

NV Taittinger Brut Prestige Champagne (5 oz. pour)

Mussels Sautéed in Garlic Butter | Crusty French Baguette

2007 Chateau La Freynelle Blanc (5 oz. pour)

Duck Cassoulet

2005 Chateau Peyreau (3 oz. pour)

Duo of Lamb: Dijon + Herb Crusted Chop + Braised Shoulder | Haricot Vert

2005 Chateau Tournefeuille (3 oz. pour)

Chateaubriand | Sauce Bordelaise | Pommes Lyonnais | Asparagus

2005 Chateau Petit Bocq (3 oz. pour)

Pot-au-Feu

2005 Chateau Gloria (3 oz. pour)

RSVP ~ (619) 295-3939

Please make your reservations directly with Wine Vault & Bistro at 619-295-3939.  We're very good about returning calls promptly, so please leave a message with the best time to return your call if you get the dreaded voice mail.  Due to limited seating, CREDIT CARD RESERVATIONS ARE AN ABSOLUTE MUST.  Sales tax and an 18% gratuity will be added to the cost of all dinners.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

If you have special dietary requests, please let us know when you RSVP, not when you arrive!  We're pretty flexible (within reason!) with substitutions and can usually accommodate most special dietary requests if given advance notice.

CANCELLATION POLICY

You may cancel your reservation up to 72 hours in advance without penalty.  NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED WITH LESS THAN 72-HOUR NOTICE unless we are able to replace your cancellation at the last minute.  (See below for groups over 4 people.)

LARGE GROUPS (OVER 4)

If you want to come with a group of friends, please make one reservation for your entire party so we can reserve a block of seats for you ... however, in the interest of fairness to others, we reserve the right to limit the number of people on a single reservation at our discretion.  The cancellation period for canceling the ENTIRE reservation without penalty is doubled from the standard 72 hours (see above) to 144 hours (6 days).  If you need to cancel only 1 or 2 people, the standard 72-hour notice still applies.

WHEN

The bar will open at 5:45 for a pre-dinner reception with Geoff until 6:30.  Dinner will then begin promptly at 6:30, but we HIGHLY recommend that you arrive well before then to better your chances of getting a closer parking space and to beat the last minute rush.

WHERE

Wine Vault & Bistro is located in the heart of San Diego between Little Italy and Old Town at 3731-A India Street on the upper terrace.  Follow the black handrail from the sidewalk up the stairs to our front door.

PARKING

On-street parking is usually available within a 3-block radius.  Remember that it’s OK to park in yellow commercial zones after 6:00 and that meters are also free after 6:00.  You can also park in the lot behind Shakespeare Pub two doors down, but do not park in El Indio's lot unless you want your car towed!  If you can’t find parking next to the restaurant, there’s always LOTS OF PARKING on San Diego Avenue and the adjacent side streets just past the Chevron station across Washington Street.  There's also a huge pay parking lot ($1 per hour) at the Mission Brewery Building two blocks south at the corner of Washington & Hancock.  (You'll have to take San Diego Avenue to Noell to Hancock to get there due to the one-way streets.)  So please don't drive yourself crazy endlessly going around in circles waiting to pounce on that perfect spot when there's TONS OF PARKING less than three blocks away!

WINE QUANTITIES

We'll be pouring 3-5 ounce tasting portions (see the line-up above) totaling 22 ounces per person.  Alcohol-wise, that's the equivalent of almost a full bottle of wine per person.  Pour buckets are provided for designated drivers.

WINE SALES

Although some wines may be in limited quantities, all wines poured at this dinner will be available for purchase at the restaurant until sold out.  We reserve the right to limit sales of any rare or allocated wines at our discretion.

WINE NOTES & BOTTLE PRICES

NV Taittinger "Cuvee Prestige" Brut Champagne ~ $32

(Reims, France) An elegantly fresh and delicate Champagne blended from a high proportion of Chardonnay grapes to yield a refined flavor palette of pear and stone fruits offset by warm, yeasty notes and hints of breadcrust.

2007 Chateau La Freynelle Blanc ~ $12

(Bordeaux) 50% Sauvignon Blanc + 50% Semillon.  Brilliant, clear yellow color.  Fruity, complex nose with tones of Sauvignon, limes, grapefruit, spices and beeswax plus a twinge of Muscat. Elegant and refreshing in the mouth with a buttery smoothness on the finish and a hint of sweetness.  A lovely dry wine that is great for sipping and to drink with seafood, pasta, salads, poultry, pork dishes and cheeses.

2005 Chateau Peyreau ~ $32

(Saint Emilion, Bordeaux) 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc + 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Lush and rich perfumey nose with a fresh blackberry jam aroma. This wine offers light notes of cassis with bright bing cherry flavor, and a lively, round and pleasant finish.

2005 Chateau Tournefeuille ~ $32

(Lalande de Pomerol, Bordeaux) 85% Merlot + 15% Cabernet Franc.  Spicy bouquet with some complex ripe black fruit.  Fine palate with firm, well-integrated tannins and lots of black fruit.  Well structured, long finish.

2005 Chateau Petit Bocq ~ $22

(Saint Estephe, Bordeaux) 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon + 5% Cabernet Franc.  Deep black-garnet red color. Rich and complex nose of blackberry fruits and vanilla with notes of coffee bean and black fruits.  Full-bodied, rich palate with good tannin structure.  The high percentage of Merlot provides and delicious finesse, roundness and mellowness to the wine.  Aging potential is 10-15 years.

2005 Chateau Gloria ~ $48

(Saint Julien, Bordeaux) Review by Robert Parker ~ 90 points: A big-time sleeper of the vintage, this St.-Julien reveals notes of tapenade, spice box, cedar, sweet black cherries, and black currants. An opulent texture, terrific fruit, medium to full body, and abundant concentration suggest this stunning Gloria will provide plenty of pleasure over the next 15 years.

THE FINE PRINT

Due to fluctuations of supply, we reserve the right to make substitutions of equal or greater value in case any of the wines or foods become unavailable.  Please, ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 ... even if your babysitter flakes out on you at the last minute!