California Cabs for the Expense Account Crowd
Vienna · Washington · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed March 7, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Eddie Merlot's Prime Aged Beef & Seafood’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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 · Mediterranean
Zaytinya's wine list is one of the more focused and honest Greek programs you'll find at a mid-to-high scale restaurant in D.C. The by-the-glass selection is wide, the pricing doesn't insult you, and the Greek variety depth is genuinely impressive. If you've been waiting for a reason to finally figure out what Xinomavro tastes like, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Washington · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão's wine list is exactly what a national Brazilian steakhouse chain's wine list looks like: functional, familiar, and priced for margin rather than your benefit. The by-the-glass count is impressive on paper, but most of the options are labels you've seen at your grocery store for a fraction of what they're charging here. If you're coming for the meat — and you should be — stick to the Catena Malbec and enjoy the show.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Washington · Washington · Steak House
A 20-wine by-the-glass list with every pour between $14 and $30, split across four sparkling, six white, two rosé and eight red. With a steak, start with the $26 Clos Duval Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or the $22 Monte Antico Supremus; for the cheapest glass, take the $14 Dr. Loosen Riesling. Pour sizes aren't posted and the page is undated, so confirm today's wines. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown DC · Washington · Steakhouse
A steakhouse beverage menu with 30 wines by the glass and a bottle list that is mostly California, with some France, Italy and Portugal. Start with the $9/glass happy hour Bonanza Cabernet if you arrive in the window, or the Eroica Riesling, the only Riesling on the glass list, and ask for prices because regular wine prices aren't posted. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Georgetown · Washington · Seafood, Steakhouse
An unpriced list that is easier to read for what it offers than for what it costs. If you want Bordeaux, ask for the 2020 Margaux de Brane Cantenac, or look at the Brunello di Montalcino in Sommelier's Selections, and get the price before you commit. This unrated guide covers the posted Beverage Menu, not service, storage or markups.
Washington · Washington · Latin, Vegetarian
A wide-ranging list with 14 wines by the glass from $17 to $95 and a bottle book that runs from $60 to $1,275. Start with the $17 Eichinger Grüner Veltliner or the $20 Pêcheur Trousseau, and ask for the Natural Wines section if you want something low-intervention. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
· Hoschton · Steakhouse
Jacks is a genuinely fun neighborhood hang with solid food, but the wine program doesn't match the ambition of the kitchen. If wine is your thing, call ahead or bring your own if corkage is an option — otherwise, lean into the cocktails and enjoy the patio. We'd love to revisit this rating if they ever put some real thought into the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Point · Atlanta · Steakhouse
Malone's earns its loyal following on the strength of its pork chops and tenderloin, not its wine list. If wine matters to your meal, you may want to call ahead and ask what's available — or just lean into a cocktail and let the steak do the heavy lifting. This one's a food-first destination.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Acworth · Steakhouse
AG Steakhouse earns its reputation as a go-to for celebrations and big nights out on Lake Acworth — but the wine program appears to be in service of the experience rather than a destination in itself. If you're splurging on the filet or the Oscar-style halibut, budget accordingly for the bottle too, and don't expect the list to surprise you. A solid place to drink wine; not a reason to come specifically for wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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