California Cabs for the Expense Account Crowd
Vienna · Washington · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
This is a 165-bottle love letter to Napa Valley markup culture. The list reads like a greatest hits compilation of wines your boss orders at client dinners — Caymus, Daou, Duckhorn on repeat. Twenty-plus glass pours mean you can sample the corporate wine playbook without committing to a $200 bottle.
The list is California-dominant with a heavy tilt toward cult Cabs and premium Merlots that pair safely with prime beef. You'll find multiple Caymus offerings spanning $55 to $180, Daou flexing up to $325 for their Patrimony bottling, and the Duckhorn portfolio covering both varietals. It's a steakhouse-safe lineup that avoids risk — no natural wines, minimal Old World presence, and zero surprises. The range works for the steak-and-potato crowd but feels one-dimensional if you're hunting for anything beyond California's big hitters.
Twenty to twenty-five glass pours is solid volume for a steakhouse, though the selection skews predictable. Expect the usual suspects: robust Cabs, fruit-forward Pinots, safe Chardonnays that won't offend anyone at the table. The pour program feels static rather than rotating — built for consistency across a chain rather than seasonal exploration or staff experimentation.
Caymus Suisun 'The Walking Fool' Red Blend — $55
Entry point to the Caymus empire without the typical markup pain — a Petite Sirah-driven blend with enough structure for ribeye
Goldeneye Pinot Noir
Most people skip Pinot at a steakhouse, but Duckhorn's Anderson Valley project delivers enough weight and dark fruit to stand up to beef without the Cab fatigue
Daou Patrimony
Paso Robles Cab at trophy wine pricing — you're paying for scarcity theater, not a $325 drinking experience
Caymus Suisun 'Grand Durif' + Prime aged ribeye
Durif (Petite Sirah) brings massive tannins and dark fruit that cut through marbled beef fat while matching the char
✔️ The Bottom Line
Eddie Merlot's delivers exactly what the sign promises: a California-heavy wine list engineered for steak dinners and business meals. The markups sting and the selection won't surprise anyone, but if your table wants Caymus with their porterhouse, this gets the job done reliably.
· Washington · Middle Eastern / North African
Maydan's wine list is one of the most geographically coherent and genuinely adventurous in Washington, DC — it matches the kitchen's ambition and then some. If you're willing to let go of the familiar, this is one of the best by-the-glass programs in the city for opening your eyes to what the wine world looks like beyond Europe.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Washington · Restaurant
Moon Rabbit's wine list is doing something rare: it's short enough to read in two minutes and interesting enough to talk about for twenty. If you care about well-chosen, adventurous bottles at prices that won't wreck your dinner bill, send your people here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Georgetown · Washington · French
Lutèce earns its Wine Spectator nod with a tightly curated French list that goes deeper than the cozy Georgetown bistro setting might suggest. The pricing skews steep once you move past the Loire and Alsace sections, but if you drink strategically — and let Chris point the way — this is a genuinely rewarding wine experience.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Washington · Washington · Spanish
Xiquet is doing something genuinely rare in D.C. — a tightly edited, Spain-first wine program inside a room that actually earns it. Four sommeliers and a Wood Spectator Award of Excellence since 2023 confirm this isn't an accident; just know you're paying for the setting as much as the bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Washington · Washington · Italian
Via Sophia is doing something genuinely focused in a city full of lists that try to please everyone — an all-Italy program with real depth, fair pricing, and a sommelier who actually cares. Send your friends here, tell them to ignore the Sassicaia, and order the Amarone.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Washington · Washington · Seafood
Truluck's is a dependable, well-run wine program that earns its Wine Spectator nod without doing anything surprising — California loyalists and Napa Cab fans will be perfectly happy here. If you want adventure, bring your own recommendations; if you want reliable execution with your stone crab, this delivers.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
I-35 / North Creek · Laredo · Steakhouse
Outback Laredo's wine program is a national chain doing national chain things — predictable, overpriced relative to quality, and staffed by people who aren't expected to know anything about what they're pouring. Come for the Bloomin' Onion, stick to a cocktail, and save the wine order for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Creek / I-35 · Laredo · Steakhouse
Logan's Roadhouse is not a wine destination — it's a steakhouse chain where wine clearly wasn't part of the concept. Order a beer, order a cocktail, and save the bottle for a restaurant that's actually trying.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mall del Norte Area · Laredo · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse Laredo is a great spot for a $17 steak and a bucket of rolls — the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order a margarita, or grab the Ste. Michelle Riesling and call it a night.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.