501 Prime

The wine list at 501 Prime reads like a greatest hits of American steakhouse wine — California Cabs front and center, France represented by the reliable names, and nothing that will make you scratch your head. In Hot Springs, Arkansas, that's not a knock; it's actually impressive that anyone here is taking wine this seriously.

The 150-250 bottle list leans heavily on California and France, which makes sense given the menu and the clientele. You'll find the Big Napa names — Caymus, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Opus One — alongside Jordan and Duckhorn Merlot for those who want a step down in intensity. France shows up primarily through Louis Jadot Burgundy and Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling rounding out the edges. It's a list built for agreement, not adventure, but within those guardrails it does the job for a prime steakhouse.

The by-the-glass program runs 12-20 options, which is a solid count for a restaurant of this size and market. We'd expect the pours to track the bottle list — California-heavy with a few approachable French options — but without a dedicated sommelier driving rotation, don't count on the glass list changing much with the seasons.