New Mexico's Backyard, Bottled and Poured
· Las Cruces · Winery Bistro · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 31, 2026
RagingWine reviewed D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You're sitting inside a working winery in southern New Mexico, and the wine list is exactly five bottles long — all of them made right here by the Lescombes family. That's not laziness; that's a point of view. Whether you find it charming or limiting depends entirely on how much you trust the house.
The Limited Release lineup leans into the kind of grapes that most American wine drinkers walk right past — Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Mourvèdre, and Petite Sirah, plus a blend called Renaissance that ties things together. These are Rhône and Bordeaux varietals grown in the high desert of New Mexico, which is genuinely more interesting than it sounds. The list is short enough to read in thirty seconds, but the selections suggest someone made intentional choices rather than defaulting to Cab and Chardonnay. What's missing: any white or rosé options, which feels like a real gap on a warm Las Cruces afternoon.
By-the-glass options weren't confirmed in our research, but given the bistro setting at a family winery, pours of house wines are almost certainly available — this is that kind of place. If you're visiting, ask specifically about the Limited Release lineup by the glass, because ordering a full bottle of Mourvèdre before you know what you're dealing with is a gamble.
D.H. Lescombes Limited Release Cabernet Franc — $48
Cab Franc at $48 from a dedicated small producer is genuinely reasonable. This grape rewards curious drinkers — more herbal and lifted than Cabernet Sauvignon — and at this price, the risk-to-reward ratio works in your favor.
D.H. Lescombes Limited Release Mourvèdre
Mourvèdre is chronically overlooked, and most people at this bistro are probably reaching for the Petite Sirah. That's their loss. Mourvèdre grown in a hot, dry climate like southern New Mexico can develop a rustic, savory depth that's unlike almost anything else on a restaurant table.
D.H. Lescombes Limited Release Petite Sirah
At $65, it's the most expensive bottle on a five-bottle list, and Petite Sirah tends to be the safe, crowd-pleasing pick that everyone defaults to when they don't know what else to order. The more adventurous bottles are $17 cheaper and more interesting.
D.H. Lescombes Limited Release Renaissance + Ask your server for the chef's protein special
A house blend called Renaissance is built to work with food — it's the kind of wine that rounds off edges and plays nice with whatever the kitchen is running. Without confirmed menu details, lean on your server here and let the blend do its job.
The Bottom Line
This isn't a wine destination in the conventional sense — it's a winery that happens to have a bistro, and the list reflects that with zero apology. If you're curious about what New Mexico terroir actually tastes like, this is one of the better places in Las Cruces to find out.
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Telshor / East Las Cruces · Las Cruces · Mexican and New Mexican
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Telshor / East Las Cruces · Las Cruces · New Mexican / Southwestern
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mesilla · Las Cruces · Bar / Wine-Friendly
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Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Greater Appleton / Fox Cities · Appleton · Winery Bistro
LaBelle Winery Fox Cities is a genuine Wild Card in the Appleton dining scene — a focused, single-producer list of cold-hardy grapes you won't find anywhere else in town. Send a friend who's curious and open-minded; skip it if they need a Cabernet.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
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Canyon Crest Winery is a genuine local gem for Riverside residents who want to drink well without driving to Temecula. It's not a deep-list destination, but for a casual pour at fair prices in a relaxed setting, it earns its spot on the map.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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