Blu on the Hudson
Manhattan Views, Serious Cellar, No Bridge Toll
Weehawken · Weehawken · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list lands with the same confidence as the view — you're staring at the Manhattan skyline through floor-to-ceiling glass, and the list in your hands has 300-plus bottles that suggest someone here actually cares. Wine Spectator handed Blu a Best of Award of Excellence in 2025, and scanning the opening pages, it's easy to see why. This isn't a hotel wine list on autopilot.
Selection Deep Dive
California, France, and Italy are the three pillars, and they're all load-bearing. On the California side you've got Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Far Niente, and Opus One — yes, the hits, but assembled with intention rather than just checking boxes. France steps up with Chateau Margaux and Chateau Lynch-Bages anchoring Bordeaux, while Louis Jadot covers Burgundy for guests who want something more restrained. Italy brings the drama with Gaja Barbaresco and Antinori Tignanello — two wines that signal a buyer who isn't afraid to go beyond the usual Barolo-or-bust approach. The list skews classic over adventurous, but at this depth and quality, that's not a criticism.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty options by the glass is genuinely impressive for a restaurant of this type, and the price range of $14-$22 is surprisingly accessible given what's in the bottle program. We'd want to know how frequently the glass list rotates — there's no evidence of an active by-the-glass program with regular swaps, which keeps the ceiling capped here. That said, having this many pours available means you can properly explore before committing to a bottle.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $60–$80 range
Jordan consistently punches above its price in Alexander Valley, and at a fine dining restaurant with this kind of overhead, finding it near the lower end of the bottle range makes it the smart play for a table that wants a proper Cab without heading into triple digits.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Most guests at a place like this go straight for the California heavyweights or the French classics, completely overlooking Drouhin's Oregon project. It's a genuinely elegant Pinot with Old World discipline from a producer that's been making wine in the Willamette Valley since the '80s — and it tends to get undersold at restaurants dominated by Cab drinkers.
Opus One
Opus One is never a bad wine, but it is almost always a bad value at a restaurant. You're paying a serious premium for a label that the market has inflated well beyond its drinking pleasure-to-dollar ratio. The wine is good; the markup situation at this price tier makes it hard to recommend when Jordan and Stag's Leap are on the same list.
Gaja Barbaresco + Dry-aged prime ribeye
Barbaresco has the structure and cherry-tar depth to stand up to a dry-aged ribeye without overwhelming it the way a big California Cab sometimes does. Gaja's version in particular brings enough elegance that the beef's natural fat and char become a conversation rather than a competition.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Blu on the Hudson is a genuine destination wine program — not just for the Jersey side of the river, but full stop. The pricing skews steep in places and the list plays to classic tastes rather than taking risks, but with sommelier Enrique Pinedo on the floor and a cellar that earned a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, you're in good hands.
Comments
Get the Weekly Wingman
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.