Whoa! This will undoubtedly be one of the most epic winemaker dinners we’ll be able to host this year. We’re featuring seven premium wines from not one, not two but three different cutting-edge wineries from Paso Robles. Winemaker/owners/partners Janell Dusi and Billy Grant will both be here in person to host this one-for-the-record-books dinner. Those of you who went on our Central Coast Tours (https://www.winevaulttours.com/ca-central-coast-2022) a couple of years ago will have fond memories of meeting Janell and Billy and tasting their wines at J. Dusi Winery. (Did you know that Janell made her first wine when she was twelve years old?!?! Yikes!) But if you missed that tour you can still meet them virtually and see the amazing Paper Street vineyard here in this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdd3zZNqMPo) that they shot for us when we were doing take out winemaker dinners during covid.

It's been a long time since Janell and Billy have hosted a dinner here (June of 2010 for the Four Vines dinner to be exact) and we can’t wait to welcome them back. Lots has changed since then so there’s lots of catching up to do. Rather than write pages and pages of updates here, I encourage you to watch the youtube video above which will bring you up to speed.

We’re changing the format of our normal winemaker dinners slightly for this dinner by:

1) featuring an internationally themed menu, and

2) featuring two wines side-by-side with most of the courses.

We’re featuring the Clairette Blanche heavy McPrice Myers White for the first course. Clairette Blanche is a relatively obscure southern French varietal that is rapidly becoming my personal favorite. It was sourced from the mountaintop Paper Street vineyard and was cloned from original Chateau Beaucastel cuttings brought in (legally for a change!) by Tablas Creek. The second course will contrast traditional Rhone-style red blends made by McPrice Myers vs. made by Paper Street. The third course will contrast two identical Zinfandels both made by Janell: the first being her J. Dusi label using fruit sourced from the original Dante Dusi vineyard planted on the valley floor in 1945, and the second being the Paper Street label using the exact same fruit cloned from the original 1945 vines but planted on the mountaintop Paper Street vineyard in 2013. The difference between the two wines is strikingly different yet similar and needs to be experienced firsthand! The last savory course will contrast two Cabernet Sauvignons: the first being an entry level yet over-delivering one made by Billy and Mac, and the second being Mac’s high-end, 96-point “Beautiful Earth” Cab.

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 two of the most respected winemakers from Paso Robles. Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested. Here's the line-up:

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

MENU

FIRST COURSE (a nod to Japan)

Crispy Nori Tostada: Seared Scallops | Caviar | Avocado | Sushi Rice | Spicy Mayo

2022 McPrice Myers “Beautiful Earth” White Blend (3 oz. pour)

SECOND COURSE (a nod to France)

Wild Mushroom + Savory Spinach Vol-au-Vent | Béchamel au Comté

2021 McPrice Myers “Beautiful Earth” Red Blend (3 oz. pour)

   vs.

2020 Paper Street “Narrator” Red Blend (3 oz. pour)

THIRD COURSE (a nod to Italy)

Chicken Puttanesca | Toasted Garlic Linguine | Spicy Oven-Dried Tomato Sugo with Olives + Capers

2021 Dusi “Dante Dusi” Zinfandel (3 oz. pour)

   vs.

2020 Paper Street Zinfandel (3 oz. pour)

FOURTH COURSE (a nod to USA)

Seared American Wagyu | Fondant Potatoes | Niçoise Olive Demi-Glace 

2022 Mac & Billy Cellars “M” Cabernet Sauvignon (3 oz. pour)

   vs.

2021 McPrice Myers “Beautiful Earth” Cabernet Sauvignon (3 oz. pour)

DESSERT COURSE (a nod to Greece)

Baklava Cheesecake | Crispy Phyllo Crust | Toasted Pistachios | Rose Scented Honey Drizzle

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

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.(IMPORTANT!) answers to the HEAD’S UP questions in the paragraph 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 after 6:00 so if you park in a metered space just put in enough money (usually under a buck) to get you to 6:00 and then you’ll be home free. Free 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 QUANTITIES

We'll be pouring a whopping seven 3-ounce portions of wine (see the line-up above) or the equivalent of well over 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

2022 McPrice Myers “Beautiful Earth” White Blend ~ $29

(Paso Robles) Winemaker’s Notes: 70% Clairette Blanche + 30% Grenache Blanc. Aromas and flavors of apple butter, macadamia nut, white flowers, poached pear, finger lime, yellow plum, loquat, lemongrass and wet stone. The palate is clean, pure and energetic with a focused mid-palate and a suave, mouthwatering finish.

2021 McPrice Myers “Beautiful Earth” Red Blend ~ $41

(Paso Robles) Winemaker’s Notes: 58% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 6% Zinfandel, 3% Petite Sirah + 3% Graciano. Our flagship Paso Robles blend representing our best lots from our favorite Westside vineyards. Aromas and flavors of marionberry, dark leather, smoked plums, blueberry/peach cobbler, acacia flower, lavender creme brûlée, red-eye gravy, violet, ripe olive, hoisin, currant paste and melted licorice. Broad, weighty and plush on the palate with a densely packed finish. ~~~ Review by Wine Enthusiast ~ 94 points: Hearty aromas of roasted and charred fruit meet with caramel, baking spice and violet on the nose of this blend. Warm maple and brown-sugar flavors show on the palate, where that dark roasted-fruit flavor picks up cappuccino spice.

2020 Paper Street “Narrator” Red Blend ~ $52

(Paso Robles) Winemaker’s Notes: 50% Grenache, 37% Syrah + 13% Mourvèdre. Deep garnet in color, this Rhone blend has an essence of licorice and dried flowers on the nose. It opens with bright cherry chased with toasted nuts before rolling into clove and dark chocolate on the mid palate and finishing with deep notes of cranberry and pomegranate.

2021 Dusi “Dante Dusi” Zinfandel ~ $36

(Paso Robles) Winemaker’s Notes: 100% Zinfandel. Our flagship Zinfandel. Earthy and herbaceous on the nose, it jumps straight into deep dark fruit upon opening. Its mid-palette is lush with blackberry and plum. Layers of minerals, dark chocolate, toast and spice makes for a fascinating and exciting vintage.

2020 Paper Street Zinfandel ~ $52

(Paso Robles) Winemaker’s Notes: 100% Zinfandel. Deep garnet in color, this wine opens with a pop of bright red fruit. Then explosive raspberry and blackberry take hold and are carried through the entire palette followed by a touch of spice to round it out. Its structure has finesse, power and a glossy finish. The vines were cloned from the legendary 75+ year old vines from Dante Dusi Vineyard.

2022 M Cabernet Sauvignon ~ $24

(Paso Robles) Winemaker’s Notes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot + Durif. Aromas and flavors of chocolate-blackberry ganache, cranberry preserves, sweet mint, black licorice, dark olive, new leather and mahogany. The palate is sleek and supple with firm, fine-grained, polished tannins and a complex, classy finish.

2021 McPrice Myers “Beautiful Earth” Cabernet Sauvignon ~ $52

(Paso Robles) 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot + 4% Syrah. ~~~ Review by Wine Advocate ~ 96 points: Nose of maraschino cherries, allspice, rose petals, bay leaves and pencil shavings gaining in aromatic intensity as it unwinds in the glass. The full-bodied palate has a deep core of fruit yet is light on its feet, with fireworks of fresh acidity and abundant, finely grained tannins. Long, layered finish. It will gain savory complexity in bottle over the next 15+ years. ~~~ Review by Wine Enthusiast ~ 95 points: Roasted black currant, blueberry and strawberry aromas are impressively dense and instantly appealing on the fruit-driven nose of this bottling. The palate is creamy and dense yet also bright, offering blackberry and violet flavors in a comforting style.

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