Waterfall Views, Real Wine Cred
Chester · Chester · American, Seasonal · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 11, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Brushmill by the Waterfall’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
A historic gristmill tucked into a Connecticut river town isn't where you'd expect to find Gaja Barbaresco and Opus One on the same list. But here we are — and the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (freshly minted in 2025) is not just window dressing. This list has been assembled with genuine intention.
The 150-250 bottle list leans predictably on California, France, and Italy, which is exactly what Wine Spectator rewarded them for — and the anchors are legitimate. Stag's Leap and Jordan on the Cabernet side, Louis Jadot holding down Burgundy, and Antinori keeping Italy honest alongside a Gaja Barbaresco that shows the list has real ambition. The French section could push deeper into the Loire or Rhône given the restaurant's seasonal New England cuisine, but what's here is coherent and well-sourced. Sommelier Aaron Conley's fingerprints are on this — it doesn't feel like a default distributor drop.
With 12-20 pours available, the by-the-glass program is one of the stronger assets here — Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay and Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling give guests approachable but non-embarrassing options without forcing a full bottle commitment. We'd love to see more rotation and some Old World representation in the glass pours, but the range is decent for a restaurant of this size.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — null
Riesling is almost always the best deal at a wine-forward American restaurant, and Ste. Michelle delivers clean, food-friendly acidity at a fraction of the price of the Burgundies and Cabs flanking it. Great with the seared scallops and a smart order for anyone who doesn't want to think too hard.
Antinori Chianti Classico
Most tables at a place like this are reaching for the California Cabs, which means the Antinori Chianti Classico gets overlooked. It's a mistake — Sangiovese at this level has the structure to handle duck breast and the elegance to not bulldoze the seasonal preparations this kitchen is doing.
Château Margaux 2018
At $750, Château Margaux is a trophy pour, not a dinner wine — and a historic New England mill is not where you open a bottle that needs another decade in the cellar. It's there to signal prestige, not to be drunk right now. Save it for a wine-specific occasion with proper glasses and more ceremony than a Tuesday reservation.
Duckhorn Merlot + Duck breast
Yes, we're pairing Duckhorn with duck — and we're not apologetic about it. The Merlot's dark fruit and soft tannin structure complement the richness of the duck breast without fighting the kitchen's seasonal preparations. It's a crowd-pleasing match that also happens to be correct.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night every Wednesday — the single best reason to plan a mid-week dinner here.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Brushmill by the Waterfall is the rare Connecticut countryside restaurant where the wine list actually justifies the drive. Pricing tilts steep on the showpiece bottles, but Aaron Conley's thoughtful curation and Wednesday's half-price wine night make this a legitimate destination — not just a pretty backdrop.
Decorah · Decorah · American, Seasonal
Rubaiyat has held a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2009, and the list earns it — not by being adventurous, but by being well-chosen, fairly priced, and genuinely cared for in a town where that's not a given. If you're in Decorah and want a proper bottle with dinner, this is your place.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Phoenix · Phoenix · American, Seasonal
Flour & Thyme earned its Wine Spectator credential, and the Tuesday half-price night makes this one of the better wine value plays in downtown Phoenix. Steer clear of the Caymus, order the Jordan, and let the wood-fired kitchen do the rest.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Lower East Side · Milwaukee · American, Seasonal
Sanford is quietly one of the most serious wine lists in the Midwest, and its three-decade Wine Spectator track record is no accident. Send your friends here when they think Milwaukee can't do fine dining — then watch them stop talking halfway through the first glass.
Solid Range
Fair
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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