Pre-Dinner Reception with Michael Keenan from 4:00 to 5:00

Dinner starts promptly at 5:00

For the fifth year in a row, Wine Vault & Bistro is pleased to announce a spectacular six course feast paired with six Keenan wines.  Michael Keenan of Napa Valley's renowned Keenan Winery will be here in person to host this dinner.  In addition to his Summer White Blend, Zinfandel, Napa Merlot and Napa Cab we're also pouring two of his highly allocated, highly rated reserve wines including "Mailbox Vineyard" Merlot (91 points) and his "Mernet" red blend (96 points).

In case you're unfamiliar with Keenan, here's what Robert Parker has to say: This beautiful winery, located in Spring Mountain in the Mayacamas Range, seems to be making the best wine of its 25-year history, and much of the credit must go to the tireless efforts of Michael Keenan who has done so much to resurrect the fortunes of this winery.

We hope you'll be able to join us for what will certainly be another memorable event.  Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested.  Here's the line-up:

NOTE: As always, as a courtesy to everyone attending this dinner, we'll make all of the limited production reserve wines available for purchase first to those in attendance before putting them on the shelves for the general public.  There will also be a very special surprise wine available.

Here's the line-up:

Bruleed Local Peaches | Burrata | Mosta Cotta | Preserved Lemon Puree | Wild Arugula

2009 Keenan White Summer Blend (5 oz. pour)

Smoked Heirloom Tomato Soup | Grilled Aged Cheddar Sandwich | Micro Cilantro

2006 Keenan "Napa" Merlot (3 oz. pour)

Chicken 'n' Biscuits: Sous Vide Chicken Breast + Pressed Thigh | Slow Poached Egg | Buttermilk Biscuit | Beurre Rouge | Crispy Skin

2006 Keenan "Mailbox" Merlot (3 oz. pour)

Red Wine Braised Prime Short Ribs | Chanterelle Coulis | Black Pepper Potato Fritter | Parmesan Espuma

2006 Keenan "Napa" Cabernet Sauvignon (3 oz. pour)

Roasted Pork Belly | Fried Green Tomato | Bourbon Glaze | Stone Ground Grits | Nueske Bacon Jam

2007 Keenan Zinfandel (3 oz. pour)

Rib Eye Steak | Spaetzle | Hen of the Woods Mushrooms | Soubise | Green Peppercorn Jus

2006 Keenan "Mernet" Red Cab/Merlot Blend (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 4:00 for a pre-dinner reception with Michael until 5:00.  Dinner will then begin promptly at 5:00, 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 on Sunday and that meters are also not enforced.  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 of wine (see the line-up above) totaling 20 ounces, or the equivalent of more than three-quarters of a 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

2009 Keenan White Summer Blend ~ $17

(Napa Valley) Winemaker's Notes: 89% Chardonnay + 11% Viognier.  Aromas of ripe peach, lemon zest and pineapple augment the concentrated floral nuances. A medium bodied wine with crisp acidity and mouth filling flavors with just a hint of toasty oak showing up on the finish.

2006 Keenan "Napa" Merlot ~ $18

(Napa Valley) Winemaker's Notes: 97% Merlot + 3% Cabernet Franc.  Shows intense aromas of black cherry, blackberry and cassis.  Complex nuances of cocoa and coffee bean emerge as the wine opens up.  A "big" Merlot that will age for many years to come. ~ ~ ~ Review by Wine Enthusiast (91 points): Impressive for its denseness, volume and sheer power.  Shows deep, long-lasting flavors of blackberries, black cherries, currants, violets, cocoa and minerals, accented with smoky oak.  Keenan has a long, great track record with Merlot, and here's another one.

2006 Keenan "Mailbox" Merlot ~ $49

(Napa Valley) Winemaker's Notes: 5% Cabernet Franc has been added to this Merlot to heighten the bright, rich, cherry elements.  Hints of violets and a fabulous spiciness show in the nose, a chocolaty creaminess combines with the rich fruit on the palette, and the finish is long, deep and elegant.  Drink now or decades from now. ~ ~ ~ Review by Robert Parker (91 points): The brilliant 2006 Merlot Reserve Mailbox Vineyard (a tiny 350-case lot that includes 5% Cabernet Franc) possesses a dense purple color as well as sweet notes of charcoal, black currants, black cherries, chocolate, and earth. Dense, full-bodied, and beautifully constructed with silky tannins and enough acidity to provide uplift and vibrancy, it can be enjoyed over the next 15 years.

2006 Keenan "Napa" Cabernet Sauvignon ~ $33

(Napa Valley) Review by Robert Parker ~ 90 points: Exhibits a dark ruby color, lush tannins (not an easy achievement in 2006), sweet dark fruits, subtle barrique and damp earth characteristics.  Consume this attractive, seductive Cabernet over the next decade.

2007 Keenan Zinfandel ~ $28

(Napa Valley) Winemaker's Notes: 100% Zinfandel.  Shows intense black cherry and raspberry fruit in the nose with background hints of black pepper and vanilla adding complexity.  A rich, full-bodied Zin that pairs especially well with anything barbecued.

2006 Keenan "Mernet" Red Cab/Merlot Blend ~ $76

(Napa Valley) Winemaker's Notes: 2006 is our 8th consecutive vintage of "Mernet" (mare-nay) our proprietary marriage of Merlot and Cabernet.  Each blend has been half Merlot and half Cabernet but no two wines have had the same vineyard combination.  This year the Merlot half is from the "Mailbox Vineyard" and the Cabernet half is equally split between estate Cabernet Sauvignon (clone 15) and estate Cabernet Franc.  The resulting wine is a seamless blend of the three varietals with an emphasis on high-toned sweet, delicious rich fruit with an almost hidden depth and structure to allow for indefinite aging. Enjoy now or decades from now. ~ ~ ~ Review by Robert Parker (96 points): An outrageous wine is the 2006 Mernet Reserve, a 350-case blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon.  This is a Spring Mountain version of the famed Bordeaux St.-Emilion, Cheval Blanc.  Sweet, rich aromas of subtle menthol, roasted herbs, black currants, black cherries, licorice and lavender emerge from this fragrant wine.  It hits the palate with substantial flavors, but the overall impression is one of grace and elegance.  A super rich, long, gorgeous example of Spring Mountain fruit, this 2006 is intense in flavor, but light on its feet. Enjoy it over the next 20+ 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!