Flatiron's Mediterranean Spot Hiding a Serious Cellar
Flatiron · New York · Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Barbounia’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Barbounia lands with serious weight — 400-plus selections anchored by Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, and Italy, which tells you immediately this isn't just a restaurant that happens to have wine. It's been earning Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence since 2012, and the list backs that up. Walk in expecting grilled octopus and leave having discovered a bottle of Tignanello — that's the move here.
The backbone of this list is old-world prestige: Château Lynch-Bages and Pichon Baron for Bordeaux lovers, Louis Jadot Puligny-Montrachet and Domaine Drouhin Oregon anchoring the Burgundy section, and Antinori Tignanello alongside Gaja Barbaresco flying the Italian flag hard. California gets proper representation too — Ridge Monte Bello and Kistler Chardonnay aren't filler picks, they're deliberate statements. Sommelier Vladimir Kolotyan has clearly curated a list that respects both the classics and the producers who earned their reputations bottle by bottle. If there's a gap, it's that adventurous drinkers looking for natural wine or esoteric grapes from lesser-known regions will find slim pickings — this list is a greatest-hits album, not a discovery playlist.
With 18 to 28 pours by the glass, there's enough range to work through an entire meal without committing to a bottle — which, frankly, is a rare luxury at a place with this much depth. The by-the-glass program skews toward crowd-pleasing classics, which fits the room. Expect Champagne from Veuve Clicquot and solid French and Italian options rotating through.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir — $65–$80
Oregon Pinot from one of Burgundy's most respected names transplanted to the Willamette Valley — this bottle routinely retails around $40-$50, and at a Park Avenue South restaurant surrounded by four-figure Bordeaux, it's the smartest glass of wine on the table. Come on a Monday when it's half price and it's practically stealing.
Antinori Tignanello
Most tables here are ordering familiar French names or California Cabs, which means the Tignanello gets overlooked. It shouldn't. This Sangiovese-Cabernet blend from Tuscany is one of the wines that rewrote the Italian rulebook, and it's a natural match for a Mediterranean menu built around lamb and bold flavors. Underordered, overachieving.
Sassicaia 2020
Listed at $750, Sassicaia is unquestionably a great wine — but the markup here is punishing. This bottle retails around $200-$220 and you're looking at a 3.5x markup at minimum. Save it for a wine shop and a special occasion at home. The same money goes a lot further elsewhere on this list.
Gaja Barbaresco 2019 + Lamb Chops
Barbaresco's signature grip and dried cherry depth go toe-to-toe with charred, herb-crusted lamb without either one backing down. Gaja's version adds a layer of elegance that keeps it from feeling heavy — it's the kind of pairing that makes you slow down and actually pay attention to what's in your glass.
Monday — Half-price wine night every Monday — applies to bottles from the full wine list.
The Bottom Line
Barbounia is a genuinely impressive wine destination wearing a casual Mediterranean restaurant as a costume — the list is deep, the sommelier knows it cold, and Monday's half-price wine night is one of the better-kept secrets in the Flatiron. The markups on trophy bottles are real, but steer clear of the Sassicaia and you'll find serious value hiding in plain sight.
NoHo · New York · Italian
Il Buco has one of the most compelling Italian wine lists in New York City — deep, principled, and staffed by people who actually care. The markup is real, so budget accordingly, but this is a room worth splurging in.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Three happy hour wines do not a wine program make. Ocean Prime is a place you eat well and drink safely — but if wine is a priority, this list will let you down before the bread basket arrives.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Midtown is a great place to see and be seen, but the wine list is there to pad the check, not to excite you. If you're here for the experience, lean on the cocktails or grab a glass of Bonanza at the bar — don't expect the bottle list to reward any real curiosity.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Kitty Dare is punching well above its weight for an Atlanta restaurant wine list — fair prices, genuinely adventurous selections, and the rare willingness to pour all of it by the glass. We don't have visibility into service or food specifics, but the list alone is worth coming for. If you want a Lebanese white from 70-year-old vines for $13/glass, this is your place.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Fia has the bones of a genuinely good wine program — thoughtful white selections, a few hidden gems, and a Champagne section that sets a mood — but steep markups and a list that doesn't stray far from the expected hold it back from greatness. Go for the Aligoté or the Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, skip the trophy bottles, and you'll drink well without feeling taken.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Monterey · Mediterranean
Dametra Cafe isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be one either — and that honesty is refreshing. The sparkling selection is genuinely fun, prices are fair across the board, and the few left-field picks like Chateau Musar Jeune give the list just enough personality. If you're in Monterey and want a bottle that doesn't feel like a markup shakedown, this is a safe call.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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