Wine Vault & Bistro is honored to announce an extra, extra, extra special 6-course Chilean winemaker dinner featuring six wines from Lapostolle and Clos Apalta, including not one but two 99-point wines in an amazing line-up of other high scoring wines. Acclaimed winemaker Andrea Leon is flying in from Santiago to host Sunday’s dinner. She’s been a part of the team for almost twenty years now and she, along with consulting winemaker Michel Rolland, have been taking these wines from Chile to the next level.

Lapostolle was founded in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet upon their discovery of a unique Clos in the Apalta Valley sheltering 100-year-old pre-phylloxera vines. They quickly realized its potential for producing world-class wines there. The Marnier-Lapostolle family has been recognized for fine wines and liqueurs since the early 19th century. In establishing her family’s legacy in the New World, Alexandra brought generations of French winemaking tradition and expertise to the rugged landscape of the Colchagua Valley. Today, Charles de Bournet, seventh generation, leads the winery in its newest chapter of innovation, punctuated by the official recognition of the Apalta DO in 2018. Together with winemaker Andrea Leon they continue to craft wines that honor the winery credo: French in essence, Chilean by birth.

After a few of their “entry level” Lapostolle wines to start (Rose: 92 points, Red Blend: 93 points and Carmenere: 94 points) we’re going to drastically ratchet things up with their 99-point “Parcelle 8” Cabernet followed by the two premier wines from Clos Apalta served side-by-side: the 95-point Petit Red and the 99-point Red Blend. We’ll end with a cocktail made with their barrel-aged Pisco and Grand Marnier. (Only fitting as the Marnier family founded the winery thirty years ago.)

Anyway, we hope to see you here for this amazing Chilean-inspired menu paired with these incredible wines. We want this to be a leisurely, unrushed experience so please plan on at least three hours for this dinner. Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested.

We’re also going to have one monster Salmanazar bottle of the 100-point 2017 Clos Apalta Red available. (A Salmanazar is nine liters, or the equivalent of twelve bottles of wine. That works out to 60 glasses of wine so make sure you have a lot of friends around when you pop that bottle!) It’s incredibly rare and impossible to assess a price so we’re going to auction it off. Bidding starts at $1,500 + tax in $100 increment upbids. Contact us via the “Contact the Host” link in the box in the upper right-hand corner of this page if you’re interested in getting in on the action.

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

MENU

Grilled Prawns | Avocado + Persimmon Salad | Caramelized Lemon Vinaigrette

2023 Lapostolle Rose (4 oz. pour)

Seared Duck Chorizo | Ensalada Chilena | Roasted Garlic Aioli | Baguette

2021 Lapostolle Apalta Red (4 oz. pour)

Wild Mushroom Empanada | Caramelized Onion + Dried Herb Chimichurri

2022 Lapostolle “Cuvée Alexandre” Carmenère (3 oz. pour)

Slow Roasted Bone-in Beef Short Rib | Papas Doradas | Salsa Verde

2020 Lapostolle “la Parcelle 8” Cabernet Sauvignon (3 oz. pour)

Wagyu Beef Carpaccio | Black Pepper Crème Fraîche | Crispy Capers | Parmesan + Black Pepper Toast

2020 Clos Apalta “Petit” Red (2 oz. pour)

  ~ and ~

2020 Clos Apalta Red (2 oz. pour)

Dark Chocolate Mousse | Whipped Sweet Cream | Candied Orange Zest

Lapostolle “XO” Picso + Grand Marnier Cocktail (1.5 oz. pour)

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

RSVP

Please RSVP by clicking on the “Contact the Host” button in the box on the top 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 necessary

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 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 three or more 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

On-street parking is usually available within a 3-block radius and meters are also free on Sunday. 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 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

2023 Lapostolle Rose ~ $15

(Chile) Winemaker's Notes: 39% Cinsaut, 32% Grenache, 22% Syrah + 7% Mourvedre. Inspired by memories of family summers in Provence. The grapes are harvested early to produce a wine with bright acidity and a fresh fruit expression. This elegant, delicate Rose has strawberry, sweet cucumber and subtle herbal aromas. It has a refreshing mouthfeel with a long-lasting finish. Serve as an aperitif or pair with fresh salads, spicy seafood, empanadas or pasta with cream sauce. ~~~ Review by Wine Spectator ~ 92 points: Pale salmon hue. Elegant nose showing stone, grapefruit and a touch of cherries. Pure, pithy and textured, with very good weight in the middle and a bone-dry finish.

2021 Lapostolle Apalta Red ~ $17

(Chile) Winemaker's Notes: 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 10% Carménère, 7% Cabernet Franc + 6% Syrah. An estate blend that elevates the characteristics of each variety: complex and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon, exuberant Syrah, and spicy Carmenère. Well-balanced nose with black fruits, coffee and chocolate. Silky palate displays luxurious tannins and a well-balanced structure. Pairs well with stew or grilled meats. ~~~ Review by James Suckling ~ 93 points: Some dark olives to the mixture of red and black fruit. Cherries, plums and a dose of grilled spice. Medium-bodied, juicy and pretty linear with even tannins. ~~~ Review by Vinous ~ 93 points: Intense purple color. Nose of plum jam, pink pepper and hints of cinnamon. In the mouth, it’s both opulent and juicy with finely grained tannins. The fairly concentrated palate flows expansively before the easygoing, lingering finish. A ripe red given the cool year.

2022 Lapostolle “Cuvee Alexandre” Carmenere ~ $24

(Chile) Winemaker's Notes: Complex nose of red and black fruit, spice, herbal and vanilla aromas. Bright and vivid, it is harvested late in the season, producing a medium structure with juicy, round tannins. Pair with rabbit or four-cheese pasta with grated truffles. ~~~ Review by James Suckling ~ 94 points: A fresh, spicy wine loaded with fruit. Dark cherries, tobacco, pepper, spices and touches of paprika, dark olives, graphite and dark chocolate. Juicy and fruit-expressive on the palate with a medium to full body and fresh, fine-grained tannins. Flavorful and long.

2020 Lapostolle “la Parcelle 8” Cabernet Sauvignon ~ $145

(Chile) Winemaker Notes: From 105-year-old ungrafted vines. Beautiful deep red ruby color. Elegant and complex, opening towards intense fruit with herbs and spices. Classic structure with elegant tannins, flavors of fruit and black spices, and a long-lasting, velvety finish. Pairs well with red meats such as roasted lamb and braised short ribs, or complements mushrooms or a cheese plate. ~~~ Review by James Suckling ~ 99 points: Complex and intense with a rare mineral quality for the hot 2020 vintage. Fresh blueberries, wild herbs, hot stones and graphite. A hint of violet. Tannins are quite chalky and tense on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Extremely long with an ethereal finish. It goes on and on, lasting for two minutes. Effortless intensity and concentration, but almost weightless. This delivers exceptional freshness for this vintage. Already drinkable now, but it will last.

2020 Clos Apalta “Petit” Red ~ $58

(Chile) Winemaker's Notes: 40% Carménère, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot + 3% Petit Verdot. Bright red garnet with violet edges. Very intense nose of black fruit, herbs and black currant with more background aromas of red fruit like cherries and strawberries plus spice and cedar notes. Round and elegant palate balanced with round and persistent tannins with a dense and concentrated finish. ~~~ Review by James Suckling ~ 95 points: Nose of spiced black cherries, cassis, olives and some red capsicums. Chalky tannins are densely packed on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Tight, structured and fine-grained. Very long.

2020 Clos Apalta Red ~ $132

(Chile) Winemaker's Notes: 64% Carmenere, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot + 2% Petit Verdot. Dark rich red with purple hues. Expressive nose with red fruit such as black and red cherry, figs and plums with spicy, black pepper notes. Complex and concentrated with broad tannins that open up the palate. Intense structure that bring more fruit and spices towards a very long finish. ~~~ Review by James Suckling ~ 99 points: A really refined, expressive and layered wine with fine olives, incense, cigar box, cocoa powder, Spanish chocolate, pencil shavings, graphite and fine spices. Juicy, bright and full-bodied palate with a fine saline, savory twist. Very long and juicy.

2017 Clos Apalta Red (9-liter Salmanazar) ~ bidding starts at $1,500

(Chile) Winemaker's Notes: 48% Carmenere, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot + 1% Petit Verdot. The 2017 vintage was shaped by extreme conditions which promoted deadly, tinderbox conditions for the propagation of devastating wildfires, with a total of 600,000 hectares of forest. To our great relief, our vines were spared and suffered no smoke damage, which was soon confirmed on tasting the different parcels of grapes. Winter was exceptionally dry at Clos Apalta, with a 35% hydric deficit compared to the longterm average. Spring was drier and cold. In November, marginally higher temperatures and marginal accumulation of rain resulted in budbreak commencing 10 days early. Summer was unbearably hot, with scorching temperatures hovering between 90 and 95. After the first ten days of March, both minimum and maximum temperatures had dropped markedly. Such temperature variations allowed the grapes to complete phenolic ripening, promoting intense colour and retaining intense fruit character and freshness. In the end, conditions for ripening were excellent and consistent with a classic year. Deep garnet in color, it reflects the intense color of Carmenere grapes and typical aromas of ripe fruits. It has an abundance of aromas, including red currant, raspberry and wild strawberries, reflecting the stunning complexity of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere. After an initial wave of berry fruits, underpinned by soft, silky tannins, contrasting touches of black olive, blackcurrant and liquorice come through. Incredibly long and taut on the finish, revealing exquisite, delicate tannins, and expressing the great elegance of the Apalta terroirs. ~~~ Review by James Suckling ~ 100 points: What a stunning nose of crushed berries, fresh flowers, sandalwood and light vineyard dust. Black olives, too. Very complex. Full-bodied with a beautiful, dense palate of blackberries, chocolate, walnuts and cigar box. Fantastic length and composure. The tannin just rolls over the palate. Very structured. The most classically structured wine ever from here. Goes on for minutes. Outrageous and so polished.

Lapostolle “XO” Pisco ~ $39

(Chile) Distiller’s Notes: Muscat of Alexandria and Pink Muscat from the Limari and Elqui Valleys are vinified, distilled and aged using techniques adapted from Cognac production. The grapes are first distilled in a state-of-the-art Alembic still from Cognac which ensure the best quality of the alcohol while preserving the Muscat aromas. After distillation the Pisco was aged for six years in medium toast, new and used French oak barrels to add complexity and delicate aromatics. Bright, amber color with copper red reflections. Fine, delicate nose with floral and fruity notes. Pleasant palate with a round, silky mouthfeel. Full-bodied and very aromatic, true to the nose. Pleasant finish with light gingerbread notes and superb length.

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