Wine Vault & Bistro is pleased to announce an extra, extra, extra special 6-course Guigal wine importer dinner featuring a whopping NINE wines from this iconic Rhone producer. Guigal is one of the most notable wine producers in the Rhône Valley. It was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal and has been managed by his son Marcel since 1961. In recent years, Marcel's son Philippe has become the third generation winemaker/manager there. Wine Advocate’s Robert Parker comments that "In the past 26 years I have spent visiting wineries and vignerons, I have never seen a producer so fanatical about quality as Marcel Guigal.”

In addition to their entry level Cotes-du-Rhone offerings we’re also featuring lots of their high-end wines including their 95-point Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc (“fireplace white” ... more on that later), their 97-point Chateauneuf-du-Pape Grand Vin Rouge and their very rare 97-point Cote-Rotie. We’ve designed a very interesting French-inspired menu format (see below) where the majority of the courses will be served with two similar wines side-by-side so you can taste and compare the differences. And we’re pulling out the stops and serving real Japanese A5 Wagyu beef (about $150 a pound) with the final savory course. We want this to be a leisurely, unrushed experience so please plan on about three hours for this dinner.  

Rhone specialist Patrick Will, who worked with Phillipe and Marcel for 25+ years, will be here in person to host this event. Those of you who enjoyed our Guigal take-out dinners in 2020 and 2021 during covid will recognize him from the educational videos that he shot for us that explained all of the sub-appellations and the different varietals grown in each. Although this video is not applicable to this menu or all of the varietals that we’re serving for this dine-in dinner, if you’re interested just to get an overview of the Rhone, you can watch it here. https://youtu.be/shPAmC78Hi0 

Anyway, we hope to see you here for this amazing dinner paired with these amazing wines! Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested.

NOTE: Due to the complexity of this menu we regret that we will be unable to accommodate vegetarian requests or extensive menu aberrations.

MENU

Croque Monsieur | Sauce Mornay | Wild Arugula

2022 Guigal “Cotes-du-Rhone” Rose (3 oz. pour)

Crab Stuffed Sole | Preserved Lemon Beurre Blanc | Salmon Caviar

2020 Guigal “Cotes-du-Rhone” Blanc (2 oz. pour)

 ~ and ~

2019 Guigal "Saintes Pierres de Nalys" Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc (2 oz. pour)

Crispy Skin Chicken Thigh | Caramelized Onion Soubise | Wild Mushroom Jus

2019 Guigal “Cotes-du-Rhone” Rouge (2 oz. pour)

 ~ and ~

2019 Guigal Gigondas (2 oz. pour)

Pan Roasted Toulouse Sausage | Cassoulet White Beans | Charred Cabbage

2018 Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape

 ~ and ~

2018 Guigal "Chateau de Nalys" Chateauneuf-Du-Pape Grand Vin

Seared Japanese A5 Wagyu | Potato Pavé | Tapenade Demi-Glace

2019 Guigal Crozes Hermitage (2 oz. pour)

 ~ and ~

2019 Guigal Cote-Rotie (2 oz. pour)

Caramel Poached Pear | Crème Anglaise

Belle de Brillet Pear + Cognac Liqueur (1 oz. pour)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

RSVP

Please RSVP by clicking on the “Contact The Host” button in the box on the right and responding with the following information.

1. your cell number and best time to call so we can call you to update your credit card info if we don’t already have it on file

2. how many people are in your party, and

3. an answer to the HEAD’S UP question below.  

HEAD’S UP

Seating is EXTREMELY limited. We have a very limited number of tables for couples who want to sit by themselves so please let us know if you’re willing to sit at communal tables as that will GREATLY increase your chances of getting in. We also have two firepit tables for two (https://www.winevaultbistro.com/fire-pit) available so let us know if you’re OK with those tables if you want to sit by yourselves. If you’re a party of four or six there won’t be a problem getting your own table. We are currently limiting party sizes to a maximum of six.

LOCATION & PHONE

Wine Vault & Bistro is located in the heart of San Diego between Little Italy and Old Town at 3731-A India Street on the upstairs terrace. Follow the black handrail up the stairs from the sidewalk to our front door. Our phone number is (619) 295-3939.

PARKING

Meters are free all day on Sunday. Non-metered on-street parking is also usually available within a 3-block radius. 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. 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 NOTES & BOTTLE PRICES

2022 Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rose ~ $17

(France) Winemaker's Notes: 70% Grenache, 20% Cinsault + 10% Syrah. Clear, brilliant and fresh appearance. Fresh with an expressive nose of red fruits and citrus. Notes of raspberry and red currant. On the palate, fruity, fine and round. A well-balanced and elegant wine.

2020 Guigal Cotes-du-Rhône Blanc ~ $17

(France) Winemaker's Notes: 60% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 8% Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc + 2% Grenache Blanc. Yellow gold, clear and brilliant. Freshness on the nose is marked by the distinctive aromas of Viognier: white flowers, apricot, acacia and white peach. The palate is fruity with plenty of richness and body. Overall, a well-rounded wine with elegance, strength and balance. ~~~ Review by Wine Advocate ~ 90 points: Even more floral and expressive than usual, fresh and vibrant, with a touch of ripe apricot flavor as well. It's medium to full-bodied, plump, silky-textured and long on the finish. Drink it over the next couple of years.

2019 Guigal "Saintes Pierres De Nalys" Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc ~ $60

(France) Winemaker Notes: 50% Grenache Blanc, 20% Clairette, 20% Bourboulenc, 5% Picardan + 5% Picpoul/Roussanne. Translated as “holy stones”, a play on the soils and history of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the second white wine to Château de Nalys has a character all its own with a strongly different varietal and plot composition and, like its red Saintes Pierres counterpart, a fermentation and aging geared towards emphasizing freshness. Pale youthful gold, brilliant and limpid color. Elegant mineral nose with notes of citrus and peach. Beautiful richness on the palate with freshness and minerality. A complete wine, elegant and balanced. Pair with a variety of starters: fish baked in salt, grilled, prepared as crudo or sashimior fresh or aged goat cheese. ~~~ Review by Jeb Dunnuck ~ 95 points: Gorgeous citrus, white flowers, salty minerals and a touch of honeysuckle emerge from the glass. Medium to full-bodied with wonderfully balanced acidity and a great finish. Ideal for enjoying over the coming decade or so. ~~~ Review by Wine Spectator ~ 92 points: A bright and pure style with a mix of acacia, honeysuckle, white peach and white nectarine notes. Subtle shortbread accents add to the lengthy finish.

2019 Guigal Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge ~ $17

(France) Winemaker's Notes: 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache + 10% Mourvèdre. Aromas of fresh fruits with red berries and spices. Full, round and racy. Rounded and smooth tannins. A full-bodied, rich and intensely aromatic wine. Full with a long finish and plenty of elegance and finesse due to the well balanced tannins and fruit. ~~~ Review by Jeb Dunnuck ~ 90-92 points: A no-brainer purchase. This Syrah-heavy red has lots of blackberry, bouquet garni and peppery notes in a ripe, full-bodied textured style. It’s well worth buying and drinking over the coming 5-7 years. ~~~ Review by Decanter ~ 90 points: A benchmark entry-level Côtes du Rhône from a classic Rhône Valley producer. A medium aromatic intensity of blackberries, spice and black pepper. The palate is textured and serves the same dark fruit plus spice notes. Shines with food.

2019 Guigal Gigondas ~ $36

(France) Winemaker's Notes: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah + 10% Mourvèdre. Intense nose dominated by stone fruits, licorice and savory garrigue notes. On the palate the wine is generous and elegant, offering cranberry and cherry notes that are accented by hints of clove and allspice. Overall a direct expression, lovely structure, and good tannins that are present but supple. A wine you'll keep coming back to again and again! ~~~ Review by Wine Advocate ~ 91-93 points: Marked by scents of Provence herbs, cherries and blueberries, this is another successful example of this Southern Rhône appellation. Full-bodied and concentrated, it's rich and velvety in feel with a long finish.

2018 Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape ~ $54

(France) Winemaker's Notes: 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah + 5% others. A rich unctuous wine with notes of mature plums, hazelnuts and red fruits. Round tannins with powerful complexity on the palate. Overall a very rich wine full of harmony and balance.

2018 Guigal "Chateau de Nalys" Chateauneuf-Du-Pape Grand Vin ~ $98

(France) Winemaker's Notes: Deep, dark and dense red with an intense nose of red and black berries and spice. The palate is a beautiful composition of silky tannins, power and elegance. Overall, an expressive, noble and complete wine. ~~~ Review by Wine Enthusiast ~ 97 points: The flagship wine of de Nalys sourced from the famed La Crau vineyard, this powerful, complex red highlights Grenache augmented by Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise and Vacarèse. Matured partially in oak, it offers black plum flavors muted by shades of earth, sun-scorched garrigue and a lingering vein of salty minerality. While soft in tannin, the wine needs time to tease out its smoky, stony nuances. Drink 2028–2040. ~~~ Review by Wine Spectator ~ 95 points: A bright savory note leads off this red, followed quickly by sanguine and bay leaf accents all melding nicely with the core of steeped blackberry, raspberry and plum fruit flavors as they move through the rich, licorice root–tinged finish. ~~~ Review by Wine & Spirits ~ 95 points: This is the first vintage of Nalys that Philippe Guigal saw through from budbreak to bottling after having purchased the estate in July 2017. He blends it from all the estate’s vineyards: the sandstone-clay of Nalys; the high, sandy, alluvial plateau of Bois Sénéchal; and the galet-covered La Crau which makes up 50 percent of this blend. Fermented in oak vats, then aged 18 months in oak (30 percent) and concrete, it’s a regal, elegant Châteauneuf, plush in texture and alluring in its scents of wood, berries and earth. The interplay of tart and sweet fruit gives the wine lift and movement and echoes the dichotomy of brisk acidity and firm tannins. You could decant this now, enjoying its fresh elegance with a steak dinner, or wait another decade to see what details time will bring.

2019 Guigal Crozes-Hermitage ~ $32

(France) Review by Wine Advocate ~ 91 points: 100% Syrah. A super effort and a terrific value. Hints of violets accent blueberries and cassis on the nose in this full-bodied, concentrated offering. Rich, velvety and a bit tannic, it's an impressive bottling.

2019 Guigal “Chateau d’ Ampuis” Cote-Rotie ~ $152

(France) Winemaker’s Notes: (France) Winemaker's Notes: 93% Syrah + 7% Viognier. The hallmark of Château d’Ampuis is an unbelievably seductive perfume full of sweet black fruits and spices, and an elegance despite the intense concentration of fruit (prunes, blackberry) and tannin. Château d’Ampuis defines what a great Côte-Rôtie should be with its beautiful balance, muscular complexity and length. A wine from a tannic and muscular vintage due to the hot climate. Solid tannins, yet well rounded by long oak ageing. ~~~ Review by James Suckling ~ 96 points. This combines the elegance and finesse for which the appellation is famous for with tremendous power. In spite of this the tannins are very fine, the generous oak already beautifully woven into the plush tapestry of flavors. Stunning length and complexity at the finish. From seven plots that are neighbours to La Mouline and La Landonne on the Cote-Rotie. Matured in 100% new oak barrels for 38 months. Drink or hold. ~~~ Review by Jeb Dunnuck ~ 95-97 points: Another beautiful, layered, incredibly impressive wine. Ripe darker fruits, smoked meats, tapenade and ground pepper all define the bouquet. Full-bodied with a wealth of baby fat, lots of tannins and a great, great finish. It's certainly in line with past vintages and perhaps shows a touch more tannic structure than the 2018. ~~~ Review by Wine Advocate ~ 94-96 points: A super example of this cuvée which blends fruit from seven different lieux-dits (three on the Cote Blonde and four on the Cote Brune). Smoky, herbal and complex, with a solid foundation of blueberry and raspberry fruit. It's full-bodied and concentrated yet silky, elegant and long on the finish.

Belle de Brillet Pear + Cognac Liqueur

(France) This classic elixir is a blend of Brillet Cognac and the essence of Williams pears (Poires Williams) grown in the Alsace region of France. The perfectly matured pears, personally selected by Jean-Louis Brillet, were picked at their peak of ripeness, macerated, and then blended with fine Brillet Cognac. A whopping 22 pounds of pears go into each bottle!

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!

Hope to see you here. Buon appetito and cheers!

Chris