California Cabs for the Expense Account Crowd
Vienna · Washington · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 7, 2026
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 · Washington · Seafood
Oceanaire is a safe, well-executed wine destination for California Chardonnay lovers who want reliable bottles with their seafood without too many surprises. Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence since 2017 is well-earned for what it is — just know this list was built for comfort, not adventure.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Georgetown · Washington · French
Lutèce is a strong place to explore French wine with a firm budget in mind. The posted list runs from a $64 Southern Rhône red to $600 Champagne, so tell Chris Ray what you want to spend and let that guide the conversation. Confirm prices and availability when you book or arrive.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Washington, DC · Washington · Steakhouse
STK DC is a vibe restaurant that treats wine as an accessory, not a feature. If you're here for the scene, the cocktails will serve you better than the list ever will.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· 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
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
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
Il Premio is a steakhouse that took its wine list seriously enough to skip the obvious plays, and the result is one of the more interesting Italian-focused lists in Atlanta right now. It's compact, priced fairly across the board, and built for exploration — whether you're going glass by glass through the Italian regions or just need a solid bottle of Chianti Classico at $72 to make a steak dinner feel right. We'd send a friend here specifically for the wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Healdsburg · Steakhouse
Stark's is the rare steakhouse that treats wine as something other than an afterthought or a cash grab. The list is compact but genuinely considered, markups are fair across the board, and the full bottle-to-glass availability is a policy every restaurant should copy. If you're eating in Healdsburg and want to drink well without overpaying, this is a legitimate stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Steakhouse
Order by the glass and explore: the posted menu gives you Riesling, Chablis, Cahors and Rioja without a bottle commitment. Pentimento at $16 is our price-conscious red starting point. Check the current list before ordering; the complete cellar, service and storage haven't been independently verified.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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