Wine Vault and Bistro

chickpeas, baby lettuces, roasted pepper tapenade. wine pairing: 2009 halter ranch white rhône blend (5 oz. pour)

vandouvan compote, fingerling potatoes, venus clams. wine pairing: 2010 ampelos viognier (5 oz. pour)

creamy white beans, ramp biscuit, poached egg. wine pairing: 2009 borsao "tres picos" garnacha (5 oz. pour)

miso marinated organic tofu, tempura spring onion. wine pairing: 2010 tablas creek "côtes de tablas" rouge (5 oz. pour)

wild rice, marinated mushrooms, charred asparagus. wine pairing: 2010 cazar "sonoma coast" pinot noir (5 oz. pour)

lentils, celeriac, peas, broccolini. wine pairing: 2007 emblem cabernet sauvignon (5 oz. pour)

caraway brioche, cranberry compote, red onion. wine pairing: 2010 margerum "late harvest" viognier (3 oz. pour)

brown butter cake, orange liqueur + marmalade, maple almonds. wine pairing: torres spanish orange liqueur (1 oz. pour)

dark chocolate ganache, gingersnap ice cream + crumble. wine pairing: alesmith speedway stout (4 oz. pour)

purchased here

Quarter bottle (187ml = 6+ oz) - NV Nicolas Feuillatte. Half bottle (375ml = 12+ oz) - NV Piper-Heidsieck. Full bottle (750ml = 25+ oz) - NV Nicolas Feuillatte.

(Carneros) Winemaker's Notes: Displays just a hint of oak that doesn't overwhelm the fruit. Medium-bodied with a nice balance of acidity and a toasty mid-palate that harmonizes with the fresh fruit flavors of pear and apple on the finish.

(Paso Robles) Winemaker's Notes: Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier + Sauvignon Blanc. Displays a luminous lemon hue and clean, youthful aromas of pear drop, peach, sweet grass, baking spices, oro blanco grapefruit, citrus blossom and toast. Balanced, creamy palate of ripe peach, honeysuckle, grapefruit, candied citrus peel, honey and pineapple flavors with a crisp, lingering finish. Delicious now with heavy-fleshed white fish and cream-sauced chicken and pasta dishes, it will develop more aromatic complexity and an even richer mouthfeel with 2-3 years of additional aging.

(Santa Ynez Valley) Nose of tropical starfruit, peach, apricot and juicy ripe pear with faint background scents of baking spices and preserved lemon. Rich, lush yet not cloying attack of ripe stone fruit flavors and honeysuckle balanced with a floral, candied ginger acidity in the evolution and long complex finish.

(Spain) Review by Robert Parker - 92 points: 100% old vine Grenache. Heady black cherry and blackberry aromas with Asian spices, incense and mineral notes leading to a dense, layered, rich old-vine Garnacha that over-delivers in a big way. A tasting of every vintage of Tres Picos ever produced (back to 2001) at the Bodega in January 2011 indicates that 8-10 years of pleasurable drinking is a reasonable expectation, however it is also ready to drink upon release.

(Sonoma Coast) Classic Pinot nose of earthy black cherry, warm strawberry and sweet damp earth. Slightly spicy attack of rich, earthy yet fruity and spicy black cherry and strawberry flavors nicely balanced with a faintly peppery, subtly spicy berry acidity in the evolution and with soft tannins in the long finish.

(Paso Robles) Winemaker's Notes: 46% Grenache, 39% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre + 5% Counoise. Fruity, spicy, brambly purple fruit nose, with sweet spices like nutmeg and cinnamon coming out with air. The mouth is nicely vibrant, with plum and loam and a nice generosity, framed by good acids. Has an impression of sweetness on the finish although it's a dry wine.

(Rutherford, Napa Valley) Winemaker's Notes: Rich and earthy with a nose of dark berry and cassis aromas. Concentrated flavors of dried fruit and currants in the attack balanced with ripe, evolved "Rutherford dust" tannins in the evolution and with savory, toasted oak tones in the long, smooth finish.

(Happy Canyon, Santa Barbara) Winemaker's Notes: After harvest 2010 was essentially over I asked Erik Mallea from Coastal Vineyard Care if there was anything still "hanging." We wandered out to the steep hillsides in the back of the Westerly property to find a few rows of Viognier that was perfect. The result is a honeyed wine with a hint of peach and nectarine. Stainless steel fermented, the wine is bright, sweet and perfectly balanced with acidity. 122 cases produced. (3 oz. pour)

(San Diego) Jet black with an off-white head. Starts with a strong coffee and dark chocolate sensation, then fades to a multitude of toasty, roasted and caramel malt flavors. Clean, crisp and full-bodied. Warmth from the 12% alcohol content lightens up the feel. (4oz. pour)

(Spain) A fragrant orange liqueur made by macerating Valencia orange peels in aged brandies flavored with wild aromatic herbs and orange blossom honey. Due to its special preparation, this orange liqueur is a distinct contrast to traditional ones in that it more resembles a mellow brandy with subtle, complex, spicy overtones enhanced with pleasant Mediterranean orange aromas. (1 oz. pour)

Quarter bottle (187ml = 6+ oz.) - NV Nicolas Feuillatte. Half bottle (375ml = 12+ oz.) - NV Piper-Heidsieck. Full bottle (750ml = 25+ oz.) - NV Nicolas Feuillatte.

(Borden Ranch, Lodi) Refreshing nose of white spring flowers and cherry blossom with background hints of pear and kiwi. Fruity attack of pineapple, persimmon and guava balanced with a crisp yet creamy acidity.

(France) Review by Wine Spectator - 91 points: 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah + 15% Carignan. Very pure tasting and powerful, with unctuous flavors of dark plum, mincemeat, raspberry ganache and black olive with lots of dark chocolate and espresso notes on the muscular finish. Drink now through 2015. 5,500 cases made.

(Sonoma County) Winemaker's Notes: Complex, earthy/fruity nose of forest floor and dried rose petals with a background aroma of muted cranberry. Extremely smooth attack of these same earthy/fruity flavors balanced with an intriguing, subtle orange zest acidity in the evolution and with mellow, already well integrated cedar tannins in the long finish. Ready to drink now or cellar through 2015. A great example of what I call the "international" style: new world fruitiness balanced with old world earthiness.

(Santa Ynez Valley) Winemaker's Notes: Shows typical blueberry and huckleberry dark fruit flavors complemented by subtle cranberry and earthy, wet clay aromatics. Savory flavors of wild game and pancetta support a prominent floral character. Ready to drink now or cellar up to 2016.

(Spain) Warm, complex nose of upfront vanilla followed by tangy sweet fruit, spices and dark rum. The palate is similar to the aroma with complex intermingling flavors of vanilla, spices, orange and cinnamon. Ends with a flavor similar to fine aged rum only sweeter. 62 proof. (1 oz. pour)