For the twelfth year in a row, Wine Vault & Bistro is pleased to announce the long-awaited Saxon Brown winemaker dinner. Winemaker and owner Jeff Gaffner is coming down from Sonoma to personally host this dinner. This will be a great opportunity to sample four of his limited production gems (average production is around 165 cases) and rub elbows with one of Sonoma's most respected winemakers. (Bonus: You’ll be the first people in the world to sample his new, Cote-Rotie-like, 75-case-micro-production Syrah which I will personally attest to being one of the top Syrahs under $100 that I’ve ever had.) If you're unfamiliar with Saxon Brown, here's a little background info on this highly acclaimed yet under-the-radar producer:

Jeff’s winemaking career began in 1981 at Chateau St. Jean under the tutelage of renowned vintner Richard Arrowood. While there, he later went on to be part of the winemaking team responsible for their super premium Cinq Cepages, named Spectator's 1999 Wine of the Year. In 1997 Jeff launched his own label, Saxon Brown. His flagship vineyard is his family's century-old Casa Santinamaria Vineyard in Sonoma but he also sources fruit from several other premium vineyards in Sonoma and Napa. Gentle handling in the vineyard, slow fermentations and extended barrel aging (Jeff's wines typically debut two to three years later than most other wines of the same vintage) all combine to produce exceptional yet affordable wines of elegance and longevity.

We are featuring four Saxon Brown wines for this dinner including a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, a Zinfandel and the afore-mentioned Syrah. We hope you'll be able to join us for what will surely be a fun evening of tasting great wines paired with great food while rubbing elbows with one of the most respected winemakers from Sonoma. Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested. Here's the line-up:

SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS

Due to the complexity of this menu we regret that we will be unable to accommodate extensive menu aberration or vegetarian requests. If you have any special dietary needs, please let us know when you RSVP, not when you arrive. We will do our best to accommodate special dietary needs if we can and if given advance notice. Please be aware that last-minute menu aberration requests will be impossible for us to accommodate.

MENU

King Prawns Roasted in Vadouvan Curry Butter | Crispy Rice | Toasted Hazelnut + Herb Vinaigrette

2019 Saxon Brown “Sangiacomo Vineyard: Green Acres Hill” Chardonnay (5 oz. pour)

Smoked Pulled Pork + Shiitake Mushroom "Beggar’s Purse"

2018 Saxon Brown “Sangiacomo Vineyard: Roberts Road” Pinot Noir (5 oz. pour)

Chinese 5-Spice Roasted Duck | Hong Kong Noodle Stir-Fry

2019 Saxon Brown “Fighting Brothers” Zinfandel (4 oz. pour)

Syrah-Glazed Beef Cheek Provencal | Cambozola Blue Cheese Spaetzle | Caramelized Mushrooms | Grilled Scallions

2019 Saxon Brown “Cordell Bank: Petrali Vineyard” Syrah (4 oz. pour)

Vanilla Roasted Pineapple + Rum Caramel Cake | Brown Sugar Streusel

Diplomatico "Reserva Exclusiva" 12-Year-Old Venezuelan Rum (1 oz. pour)

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RSVP (IF ON A DESKTOP COMPUTER)

Click the “Contact the Host” button in the “Tell a Friend” box on to the right and respond with the info below.

RSVP (IF ON A MOBILE DEVICE)

Scroll to the very bottom of this posting. Click the “Contact the Host” button in the “Tell a Friend” box at the bottom and respond with the info below.

RESPOND WITH THIS INFO

1. your cell number and best time to call so we can call you to update your credit card info

2. how many people are in your party, and

3. answers to the HEAD’S UP questions in the paragraph below if you’re a party of 1 or 2.

HEAD’S UP

Seating is EXTREMELY limited. We have a 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 the two firepit tables on the patio for two (https://www.winevaultbistro.com/fire-pit) available if you don’t mind sitting at a lower, coffee table height table. Also, please consider inviting another couple or two to join you as 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

Metered and non-metered on-street parking is usually available within a 3-block radius. Try to find non-metered parking as the new meters are now enforced seven days a day until 8:00PM yet still only allow a maximum of two hours. You can also park in the free 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 usually parking on the side streets behind the restaurant, on San Diego Avenue one block in front of the restaurant and on the adjacent side streets just past the Chevron station across Washington Street. If you plan to drive here make sure to allow yourself plenty of time to find a parking space but ideally use a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft so you don’t have to deal with it.

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

2019 Saxon Brown “Sangiacomo Vineyard: Green Acres Hill” Chardonnay ~ $36

(Carneros) Winemaker’s Notes: A beautiful expression of site, clone and vintage, this Chardonnay delivers a best of both worlds blend of buoyant fruit and rich mouthfeel. Opens with an effusive display of vibrant tropical and stone fruit accented by hints of spice and wet stone. Textural impressions emerge on the palate with almond cream, hazelnut and baked pastry adding depth and richness to the high-toned fruit. Bright acidity brings a lovely tension to the long, creamy finish. 220 cases produced.

2018 Saxon Brown “Sangiacomo Vineyard: Roberts Road” Pinot Noir ~ $36

(Sonoma Coast) Winemaker’s Notes: A wine noted for its signature aromatics, it opens with alluring scents of violet, lavender and dried rose. The young, fruit-forward palate shows even more concentration than in previous vintages, with a generous core of red cherry, raspberry and cranberry highlighted by sweet tea and clove notes. Finishes with great length and elegance. Enjoy upon release or cellar for up to 10-12 years. 185 cases produced.

2019 Saxon Brown “Fighting Brothers” Zinfandel ~ $32

(Sonoma Valley) Winemaker’s Notes: A big, concentrated wine offering a mouth-filling blend of rich plum, blackberry bramble, raspberry compote, dark cherry and chocolate with lovely accents of allspice and clove. On the palate the wine’s jammy core of concentrated fruit gains exquisite structure from polished, sweet oak tannins that linger on the endless finish. 174 cases produced.

2019 Saxon Brown “Cordell Bank: Petrali Vineyard” Syrah ~ $55

(Sonoma Valley) Winemaker’s Notes: The cool Pacific breezes and fog that drift inland from the sanctuary help moderate temperatures in the Petrali Vineyard, allowing for longer hang time, balanced acidity, and refined tannins. The result is a Cote-Rotie style Syrah of remarkable depth and finesse, with aromas of blackberry, cracked pepper and smoked herbs and a palate layered with blue fruit, leather and savory spice. 75 cases produced.

Diplomatico "Reserva Exclusiva" 12-Year-Old Venezuelan Rum (1 liter bottle) ~ $43

(Venezuela) An elegant and complex sipping rum carefully crafted from the purest of sugar cane honeys. It is delicately distilled in ancient copper pot stills and aged in small oak casks for up to twelve years. Marrying a unique body with excellent balance has made it a reference for rum lovers and connoisseurs throughout the world. Amber in color, with a complex nose and flavors of maple syrup, orange peel, brown sugar, licorice and sweet toffee fudge. Seductive and elegant finish.

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