"It's hard to find a bad saint"

"It's hard to find a bad saint" - at least in French wines, this stands as a solid guide to excellent quality. Saints Julien, Estephe, Emilion, Macaire, Joseph... each that I've tried have been wonderful. One of Dr Desert Flower's favorite saints is the St. Julien, so it was with some anticipation that I perused the wine list (link here) for Vincent's on Camelback (link here). I was shocked to see most of the wines on the list cost more than any car payment I've ever made, and some more than mortgage payments. I was able to find the least expensive St. Julien at $78 a bottle - Larose De Gruaud Saint Julien 2006. We dined there last Friday night, and getting the Prix Fixe (which was lobster with habenero pasta for DDF and lamb shank for me last week, this week they're offering Maine Lobster and Beef Tenderloin au Poivre [link here]) we actually spent More on wine than we did on food - and brought home the bottle with 2 glasses left in it, which we enjoyed the next day.

The food and wine were delicious, the service was very good, the restaurant was deserted. 830pm (2030 hours) on a Friday night, and we were 1 of 4 tables with diners, in the whole dining area. I've not seen a highly rated restaurant so dead at prime time, ever. It is summer here though, and it was 110F today... so I can understand how the tourist dollars are not in town.

Vincent's is a French cuisine restaurant, and it's good, but after thinking it over, DDF and I prefer Sophie's (link here) here in Phoenix. Sophie's has a more affordable / approachable wine list, a more affable staff, and it's not like dining in a dark cave. Come visit us here in Phoenix, and we'll take you there sometime! =)