Sacred Bottles in a Cathedral of Cool
East Village · New York · French, Mediterranean
Reviewed April 8, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Cathédrale’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Cathédrale, the wine list hits about the same time as the soaring ceiling — both are trying to tell you something about ambition. This is a TAO Group property that decided to actually take wine seriously, and the result is a 400-600 bottle list that earns its Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence without leaning on it as a crutch. Burgundy is the obvious obsession here, and they don't pretend otherwise.
The Burgundy section reads like a greatest-hits collection with actual depth — Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Henri Jayer, Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin, Domaine Leroy, and Raveneau Chablis all present and accounted for. California gets its due with Screaming Eagle, Opus One, and Kistler Chardonnay holding down the New World corner. Bordeaux shows up with heavyweights like Château Pétrus and Château Léoville-Las Cases, while Domaine Weinbach and Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet round out a France-first philosophy that feels intentional rather than reflexive. The gaps are minor — this is a list built for serious drinkers who also want a great dinner.
With 20-35 options running $15-$35, the by-the-glass program is unusually thoughtful for a restaurant of this size and energy. You're not stuck choosing between a forgettable Pinot Grigio and a grocery-store Cabernet — the same seriousness applied to the bottle list clearly informed the pours. Rotation appears to exist but isn't formally structured, so ask Jedrzej or Chase what's moving before you default to a menu pick.
Domaine Weinbach Alsace — $60-$90 (estimated bottle range)
In a list dominated by triple-digit Burgundy and cult Cali Cabs, Weinbach's Alsace offerings represent the smartest spend on the menu — complex, food-friendly, and priced without the prestige tax that everything else carries.
Raveneau Chablis
Most tables at Cathédrale are ordering Burgundy reds or California showstoppers, which means Raveneau's Chablis gets overlooked. That's a mistake — this is benchmark Chardonnay that cuts through the richer French-Mediterranean dishes with the kind of precision the big reds can't offer.
Opus One
Opus One is a perfectly good wine that has been marked up to perfectly absurd levels at every restaurant that carries it, and Cathédrale is not the exception. You're paying a name tax here. The list has better options at every price point.
Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin + Ribeye Steak au Poivre
Rousseau's Gevrey-Chambertin has the structure and earthy depth to stand up to a peppercorn-crusted ribeye without either one steamrolling the other — this is a classic for a reason, and at Cathédrale you have access to one of the best producers making it.
The Bottom Line
Cathédrale is one of the rare high-energy, high-design New York dining rooms where the wine list is genuinely worth your attention — not just a revenue mechanism dressed up in leather binding. Yes, you'll pay for it, but the depth, the staff knowledge, and the sheer range of serious producers make this worth a detour for anyone who cares about what's in the glass.
Midtown · New York · French Brasserie
La Grande Boucherie earns its place as a reliable stop for wine in Midtown, especially if you're leaning French. The glass list is genuinely wide and has some smart picks buried in it — the Fleurie and the Wiemer Riesling both punch above their price points. Markups trend steep as you climb the bottle list, so your money works hardest in the by-the-glass section. If you're here for the brasserie experience, the wine program holds up its end of the deal.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Steakhouse
BLT Prime's wine program is glass-only, which limits your options if you came for a big bottle moment, but the pricing is honest and the selection is more thoughtful than most steakhouses bother with. If you're keeping it casual and ordering by the glass, you can drink well here without feeling taken advantage of — and that's not nothing in this city.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
The Palm Midtown is not where you'd expect to find Puzelat and Ruth Lewandowski sitting next to each other on a wine list — which is exactly what makes it worth a second look. Six bottles is a short menu, but all six are defensible picks at prices that don't insult you. If you're in the mood to trust the list and not overthink it, this works.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Murray Hill · New York · Classic American Steakhouse
Wolfgang's is a reliable steakhouse wine experience in the sense that you know exactly what you're getting: a list built around the bottle you already know, priced for the room you're sitting in. If you're here to close a deal over a Porterhouse for Two, the wine list will do its job without embarrassing anyone — but it's not going to surprise you, and it's almost certainly going to cost more than it should. Go in with eyes open and a strong second-choice red in mind.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Mediterranean
Zaytinya's wine list is a rare thing in New York: a focused, regionally coherent program that commits hard to Greek and Eastern Mediterranean varieties without making you feel like you need a flashcard to order. The by-the-glass selection alone — 18 options, all under $18, featuring producers most wine lists wouldn't touch — makes this worth visiting even before the food arrives. If you eat here and order a Cabernet, that's on you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Italian
A long bottle list with Italian, Burgundy and Champagne sections, fronted by a 22-wine glass page. For a glass, try the Skerk Orange Wine from Friuli at 25/95, and for a bottle on a lighter budget, the Volpaia Vermentino at 60; upstairs in the café, the labeled list pours Palistorti di Valgiano's orange Tuscan blend at Glass $22. Confirm prices before you order, because the site's Upstairs Café dinner menu and the beverage PDF do not match. This unrated guide covers the posted wine lists, not service, storage or markups.
Wheaton · Wheaton · French, Mediterranean
A French creperie in the Chicago suburbs with a sommelier, a focused French wine list, and Wine Spectator's blessing — this is the Wild Card the western suburbs didn't know they needed. Send your most skeptical friend, order the fondue, and let Sheila pick the bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Las Vegas Strip · Las Vegas · French, Mediterranean
LPM is a legitimate wine destination by Las Vegas Strip standards — the Burgundy-forward list has real bones, sommelier Karla Poeschel keeps it credible, and a newly minted Wine Spectator Award of Excellence confirms this isn't just hotel filler. Markups are what they are in this zip code, but the quality is there if you spend wisely.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Sag Harbor · Sag Harbor · French, Mediterranean
Lulu is a legitimate wine destination for Sag Harbor — the French focus is earned, the high-end Rhône and Burgundy names add real credibility, and the overall program is thoughtful enough to send a friend here specifically for the wine. Markups lean Hamptons-steep, so pick carefully, but the bones of this list are genuinely good.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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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