California All-Stars, Served With Steak
Boca Raton · Boca Raton · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Chops Lobster Bar reads like a greatest hits album of California wine — Caymus, Silver Oak, Opus One, all present and accounted for. It's polished, it's confident, and it knows exactly who it's serving: Boca Raton regulars who want the Napa they know without any surprises. Wine Spectator has been handing out Awards of Excellence here since 2023, and that tracks.
With somewhere between 350 and 500 selections, there's real depth on this list — just don't come looking for Burgundy rabbit holes or orange wine detours. California is the star, full stop, with heavy hitters like Stag's Leap, Jordan, Duckhorn, Far Niente, and Rombauer holding down the fort. Chardonnay and Cabernet carry the bulk of the real estate, which makes sense given the steakhouse-and-lobster mandate. If you're hoping for a Rhône deep cut or a Finger Lakes Riesling, look elsewhere.
Twenty to thirty glass pours is a genuinely solid by-the-glass program for a steakhouse of this type, and the $12–$25 range gives you room to land on something worth drinking without committing to a bottle. The selections skew California-heavy — no surprises there — but the breadth means you can match a white to the bisque and a red to the ribeye without much hassle. Rotation appears limited; this is a steady-state list, not one that changes with the seasons.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $45
Jordan consistently punches above its price in the secondary market and brings that Alexander Valley polish — cassis, cedar, restrained oak — that works as well with a dry-aged steak as anything on this list. At the entry end of the bottle range, it's the play.
Duckhorn Merlot
In a room full of Cab drinkers, the Duckhorn Merlot gets overlooked — and that's a mistake. It's plush, structured, and genuinely versatile across the menu, from the lobster bisque to the filet. Most tables blow past it on their way to Silver Oak and miss a wine that often drinks more elegantly than wines at twice the price.
Opus One
Opus One is a fine wine. It is also a wine you are paying a significant restaurant premium on at a Boca steakhouse, on top of an already elevated retail price. The markup here is doing heavy lifting, and unless someone else is signing the check, this is a bottle that costs you considerably more than it needs to.
Far Niente Chardonnay + Jumbo Lump Crab Cake
Far Niente's Chardonnay has the weight and richness to hold up to a butter-forward crab cake without steamrolling the crab itself. The wine's stone fruit and toasty oak give you contrast; the natural acidity keeps the whole thing from going sideways. It's a classic move for a reason.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Chops Lobster Bar is exactly what it promises: a well-run, California-focused list in a clubby setting where the wine program supports the food rather than competes with it. Send your Cab-loving friends without hesitation; just remind them to skip the trophy bottles and drink the Jordan instead.
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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BJ's is a fine place to drink a craft beer and eat a Pizookie. It is not a place to drink wine. Order a Brewhouse Blonde, skip the wine list entirely, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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