Steak-forward list, polished but predictable
· Cincinnati · Contemporary American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed October 20, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Eddie Merlot's’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Eddie Merlot's wears its name like a promise — and the wine list broadly delivers on the steakhouse side of that deal. The room is polished, the vibe is special-occasion serious, and the list reads like it was curated to impress a table of business diners without making anyone uncomfortable. Safe territory, confidently executed.
What you'd expect from an upscale American steakhouse: Cabernet Sauvignon anchoring the red column, a handful of domestic names you'll recognize from grocery store shelves, and a quieter showing from the rest of the wine world. The list leans heavily on crowd-pleasing California and a smattering of French classics, but don't come looking for off-the-beaten-path regions or small-production producers. It's a list built to move bottles to people who order by label recognition, not region or vintage. That's not a crime — it's just not adventurous.
We don't have verified specifics on the current by-the-glass program, so we won't guess at what's being poured tonight. What the setting and price point suggest is a standard steakhouse rotation — a couple of Cabs, a Chardonnay, maybe a Malbec. Whether it rotates meaningfully or sits stagnant is the real question, and one worth asking your server before committing.
The Bottom Line
Eddie Merlot's is a reliable performer in a genre that doesn't reward risk-taking — you'll eat well, drink acceptably, and pay steakhouse prices for both. If you're after a wine list that surprises or challenges you, this isn't your room. But if you need somewhere that delivers a respectable bottle alongside a serious filet, this gets the job done without embarrassing you at the table.
Montgomery · Cincinnati · American
A winery-restaurant list where nearly every wine is posted with a glass and a bottle price, from $9.50 to $25.00 a glass. Start with the Cooper's Hawk Lux Cabernet Sauvignon, which the menu lists beside the red wine braised short ribs, or the Cooper's Hawk Red at $10.75 a glass, and try the CHMX from Baja, Mexico on a weekday at the $8 Wine O'Clock price. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, so confirm availability.
Covington · Cincinnati · Farm-to-Table Bistro
A bistro wine list with a compact glass tab and a regional bottle tab that runs from 42 to 310. Start with the Conquilla cava or the Voliero sangiovese by the glass, or the Thymiopoulos xinomavro at $50 if you want a bottle, and confirm prices because the menu is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Cincinnati · Wood-Fired American
A French-led bottle list with a glass page that starts at $17 and a Coravin page for smaller pours. Order the Domaine Brun-Avril Côtes-du-Rhône at $20 a glass, or try the Château de Plaisance Anjou Blanc by the pour, and confirm vintages since the book says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
Newport · Cincinnati · Farm-to-table (Italian, French, American)
A tasting-menu room with a wine book that runs from Burgundy to Tuscany and a short, specific beverage sheet. Start with the $15 Delalle sparkling Chenin Blanc, or look at the $48 Rocca del Principe Fiano if you want a bottle, and confirm what is available since neither list is dated. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks lists, not service, storage or markups.
Lytle Park · Cincinnati · Italian
A broad Italian-and-Napa list, with every glass pour labeled by size. Start with the Santa Cristina Cabernet Sauvignon (6oz 12) or the Ohio-made Carlotta red blend (43), and confirm what is pouring, since the list carries no date. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Cincinnati · Rooftop Bar & Restaurant
A short, familiar list of 16 wines, from 12 | 44 for Cava and Rioja up to 18 | 68 for a Sonoma red blend. Order the Cune Crianza Rioja with a steak or the Revel OTR Pinot Gris if you want something less obvious, and ask which price is the glass because the menu does not say. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Talking Stick Resort · Scottsdale · Contemporary American Steakhouse
A resort list with real range: 24 glass pours from $10 to $32, numbered bins for Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux and Napa Cabernet, and a short Arizona red section. Start with the $10 Savino Pinot Grigio or the $15 Merkin 'Chupacabra', and look at the Dos Cabezas Tempranillo at $62 if you want a bottle. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Texas Corners · Kalamazoo · Contemporary American Steakhouse
Bold is a reliable neighborhood steakhouse with a wine list that matches the room — safe, familiar, and priced like they know you're here to celebrate. If you're chasing something adventurous in the glass, keep hunting; if you just want a decent pour with a great steak, it gets the job done.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
St. Helena · Napa · Contemporary American Steakhouse
PRESS is a bucket-list wine destination if Napa Cab is your religion and you've got the budget for the tithe — 2,700 bottles, proper cellar, and a staff that can navigate all of it. Just go in clear-eyed: markups are real, the Duckhorn is a trap, and the magic here lives in the verticals and library selections, not the familiar names.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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