Brentwood's Big Game List, No Apologies
Brentwood · Los Angeles · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Baltaire lands with the same confidence as the room itself — dim, plush, and clearly not worried about your budget. At 400-600 bottles deep with a Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator since 2022, this is a list that means business. You're in Brentwood, and Baltaire wants you to know it.
France is the backbone here, with serious Burgundy representation including Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin and Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet, plus first-growth Bordeaux like Château Margaux and Château Pétrus that would make any collector nod approvingly. California holds its own with cult heavyweights — Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Opus One, and Kistler — sitting alongside Italian stalwarts like Sassicaia, Tignanello, and Gaja Barbaresco Sori Tildin. The list skews heavily toward trophy bottles, and if you're looking for under-the-radar producers or natural wine exploration, you'll mostly be disappointed. But if you came here to drink well and flex a little, the depth is genuinely there.
Twenty to thirty pours by the glass is a strong showing for a steakhouse format, and the range stretches from $15 accessible options up through more serious picks that reward the adventurous. We'd love to see more rotation and a clearer narrative around the glass program, but the sheer volume of options means you're unlikely to feel stuck. Monday's half-price wine night makes the by-the-glass program significantly more interesting — that's when to experiment.
Kistler Vine Hill Chardonnay 2021 — $185
In a list dominated by four-figure bottles, $185 for Kistler Vine Hill is one of the few moments where you feel like the house isn't completely running up the score. It's a benchmark Sonoma Coast Chardonnay that holds its own against the Burgundy heavyweights sitting nearby on the list — and it's actually approachable enough to order without second-guessing yourself.
Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin
Everyone at the table is eyeing the DRC and the Screaming Eagle, but the Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin is the move for anyone who actually wants to drink great Burgundy without the full spectacle. It's one of the most respected names in all of Pinot Noir, and in a room full of headline-grabbing bottles, it tends to get overlooked.
Opus One 2020
At $525 a bottle, Opus One is doing what Opus One always does at restaurants — trading on name recognition at a markup that doesn't reflect how widely available it actually is. It's a good wine, but it's not a great value, and in a list with this much depth, your $525 works a lot harder pointed almost anywhere else.
Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin + Dry-Aged Ribeye
A dry-aged ribeye needs something with real structure and a savory edge — not a fruit bomb. Rousseau's Gevrey delivers earthy depth, firm tannins, and the kind of umami-forward character that matches the funky intensity of dry-aged beef without overwhelming it. It's the pairing that makes you look smart without trying too hard.
Monday — Half-price wine night every Monday — applies to bottles and makes this list dramatically more accessible. Best night to explore.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Baltaire is unambiguously a trophy-bottle list in a trophy-bottle neighborhood, and it earns its Wine Spectator credential with genuine depth across France and California. The markups sting and there's no sommelier to guide you through it, but Monday night half-price wine makes this one of the better value plays in LA if you time it right.
Downtown Los Angeles · Los Angeles · French-inspired, New American
Perch is a place people go for the view, the scene, and the Instagram moment — the wine list knows this and doesn't try very hard. Order something simple, enjoy the skyline, and save your serious wine drinking for a restaurant that wants to earn it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hollywood · Los Angeles · Upscale Italian, Seafood
Marino is a reliable, well-curated Italian wine list that earns its stripes on selection and staff knowledge, even if the pricing makes you wince on the everyday bottles. Send a friend here for the Guidalberto and the Franciacorta — just steer them away from anything under $60.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Hollywood · Los Angeles · Neapolitan Italian, Pizza
Da Michele's wine list is narrow by design and better for it — a focused, fairly priced tour through Southern Italy that most pizza spots in LA wouldn't dare attempt. If you're even mildly curious about Campanian wine, this is one of the better excuses in the city to start learning.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Los Angeles · Los Angeles · Seafood
Water Grill is a reliable choice for serious wine with serious seafood — the list is deep enough to reward exploration, and the sommelier presence means you can actually ask for help. The markups sting, but this is Downtown LA and you knew that walking in.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bel-Air · Los Angeles · Modern Californian with European/Mediterranean influences
This is a serious wine list dressed in a garden party — the depth is real, the sommelier is engaged, and if you're willing to pay the Bel-Air premium, the experience delivers. Just go in knowing the bill will reflect the hedge-lined address.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Beverly Grove / West Hollywood · Los Angeles · Greek / Mediterranean
Kassi Club is a party restaurant with a wine list that punches above its vibe — if you ignore the markup and order Greek, you're going to drink well. Send a friend here specifically to work through the indigenous varietals; just tell them to skip the Chablis.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
CityPlace · West Palm Beach · American
RH Rooftop is a great place to drink wine you already know in a room that photographs extremely well — just don't come expecting to discover anything. If you're a guest who wants reliability and a gorgeous sunset view, this delivers; if you're chasing depth or value, this list isn't going to find you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Northwood / near downtown · West Palm Beach · American
Table 26 punches above its neighborhood weight with a list that has real ambition and a happy hour program that's one of the best deals in South Florida. The markup on the trophy tier is aggressive, but if you drink smart — and especially if you show up before 6 PM — this place absolutely delivers.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
South End / near The Breakers · West Palm Beach · American
Henry's isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either — the list is familiar, the markups are fairer than you'd expect from a Breakers property, and the flight program gives you a reason to explore. Send your friends here for dinner without worrying they'll get gouged on wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.