For the eighth year (and the first year since covid!), Wine Vault & Bistro is pleased to announce a 6-course winemaker dinner featuring Justin Winery.  As an exceptionally rare treat, Justin Winery founder and namesake, Justin Baldwin, will be here in person to host this event on Saturday. After their Sauv Blanc with the first course, we’re serving an over-the-top line-up of all high-end reds including their regular Cab and their Reserve Cab followed by their iconic Bordeaux-style reds: Justification and, of course, Isosceles. Wow! 

Hope to see you here! 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 are unable to accommodate vegetarian requests or extensive menu aberrations.

MENU

Whole Roasted California Spot Prawn | Fennel + Arugula Salad | Coriander Lime Dressing

2023 Justin Sauvignon Blanc (4 oz. pour)

Blackened Herb Marinated Chicken Breast | Smoked Shallots en Papillote | Glazed Salsify | Natural Chicken Jus

2021 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon (4 oz. pour)

Korean-Style BBQ Baby Back Ribs | Duck Fat Crispy Rice

2022 Justin “Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon (4 oz. pour)

Grilled Trumpet Royale Mushroom | Garlic Sauteed Spinach | Toasted Walnut + Thyme Truffle Butter

2021 Justin “Justification” Right Bank Bordeaux Blend (4 oz. pour)

Australian Wagyu NY Strip Loin | Pommes Paillasson | Caramelized Beef + Brown Butter Bearnaise

2021 Justin “Isosceles” Left Bank Bordeaux Blend (4 oz. pour)

Vietnamese Coffee Cheesecake | Sesame Crumble

WV&B’s Legendary Eggnog (4 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 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

On-street parking is usually available within a 3-block radius. Meters are free after 6:00 so if you park at a metered spot just put in enough money (probably less than a buck) to get you to 6:00 and then you’re home free. 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 Justin Sauvignon Blanc ~ $15

(Paso Robles) Winemaker’s Notes: Aromatic nose of ripe lemon, green apple, peach, citrus blossom and fresh herbal notes. Medium-bodied, dry palate with bright lemon and Granny Smith apple on the entry and pineapple with fresh-cut herbs toward the midpalate. The moderately long finish is very clean and textured with sustained fresh citrus fruit, herbal and mineral notes.

2021 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon ~ $24

(Paso Robles) Winemaker’s Notes: Warmly aromatic with ripe red and black cherry notes, cigar box and toasted oak with savory elements of vanilla and caramel with fresh sage and hints of cocoa. Moderate-plus bodied with ripe red plum, black cherry and blackberry on the entry. The fresh mid-palate turns savory with dried herbs, barrel spice and vanilla supported by smooth tannins. The complex finish shows lingering ripe red and black fruit and spice mixed with dark caramel, dried floral notes and mint elements.

2022 Justin “Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon ~ $52

(Paso Robles) Winemaker’s Notes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium intensity on the nose with rich red plum, blackberry jam, cocoa powder and savory tea leaf aromas. A vein of earthy minerality brings complexity to juicy fruit and autumn spice with the oak barrel aging lending warm vanilla, caramel and allspice. Dry and full-bodied with intense, youthful red fruit on the palate. Bing cherry and blackberry notes are layered with leather, espresso and nutmeg, and the long finish is accented with well-integrated tannins and an element of acidity that keeps the wine from being heavy.

2021 Justin “Justification” Right Bank Bordeaux Blend ~ $57

(Paso Robles) Winemaker’s Notes: 60% Cabernet Franc + 40% Merlot. Aromatic nose with rich ripe black fruit along with notes of vanilla, mocha, saddle leather and warm toasted oak hints. Moderate-plus bodied palate with ripe blackberry and black plum on the entry, evolving into the deeply savory midpalate with smooth, fine tannins and notes of fresh bay leaves, cedar, espresso and subtle hints of fruitcake. The long and lingering finish features minerality, sweet tobacco, plum preserves and barrel spice while remaining savory and fresh.

2021 Justin “Isosceles” Left Bank Bordeaux Blend ~ $64

(Paso Robles) Winemaker’s Notes: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc + 7% Merlot. Complex and attractively aromatic nose showing very ripe cherry and black currant fruit followed by savory notes of cedar, pipe tobacco, vanilla bean, baking spice and warm oak. Full-bodied on the palate with ripe notes of crème de cassis and black cherry jam with hints of red berry fruit on entry. Vanilla, licorice and baking spice lead into the midpalate, showing complex savory notes of cedar, tobacco leaf and leather. The lengthy and continually changing finish progresses from ripe black cherry fruit flavors accented by baking spice and oak notes to ripe chewy tannins and balancing acidity that adds depth and freshness.

WV&B’s Legendary Eggnog ~ $39 (750ml bottle)

We sandbagged some of our legendary Christmas eggnog just for this dinner. It’s an addictive concoction I’ve been perfecting for over forty years now. It’s a decadent combination of super fresh eggs with bright orange yolks (instead of the typical pale yellow supermarket ones) from an organic farm, pure vanilla, cream and nutmeg aggressively spiked with two kinds of rum, cognac and bourbon. We sell it in recycled wine bottles for thirty-nine bucks. And, according to lots of research I’ve done lately, it will actually keep for 1-2 years as long as it’s continually refrigerated. And it mellows and gets better with age. I know that it just sounds so wrong to keep anything with fresh eggs and fresh cream for more than a week or two, but once a certain level of alcohol is introduced, (and we’re waaaay above that level) all bets are off and it will keep for a much longer period of time as long as it’s continually refrigerated. I kept some of last year’s batch until May and it was truly amazing but, out of an abundance of caution, I’ve somewhat arbitrarily listed the shelf life as end of January. But I’ve had customers tell me that they’ve just now opened some of last year’s nog and that it’s amazing a year later. So this should be an extra special treat as the batch we’re serving for this dinner has already been aging for three months!

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