3,300 Bottles Deep and Still Digging
Downtown / The Little Nell · Aspen · Wine Bar / Lounge · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Element 47 Bar & Lounge’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You walk into Element 47 and the ceiling-height glass wine displays hit you before you even sit down — this place knows exactly what it is and doesn't apologize for it. The Wine Spectator Grand Award hangs over everything here, and at 3,300 labels strong, it has earned that right. This is a serious wine program dressed in ski-town luxury.
The list reads like a greatest-hits compilation of the world's top appellations, executed with depth rather than breadth for breadth's sake. Burgundy and Bordeaux anchor the list with genuine vertical and producer range — we're talking village to Grand Cru in Burgundy, classified growths across both Left and Right Banks in Bordeaux. California holds its own with top Napa Cabernets and Chardonnays from Sonoma, and the Rhône representation — Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, Châteauneuf-du-Pape — gives the list real personality beyond the usual suspects. Italian coverage through Barolo, Brunello, and Super Tuscans rounds it out, and the Champagne section spans both major houses and grower-producers including vintage and prestige cuvées.
With an estimated 20-30 by-the-glass options drawn from a 3,300-label cellar, the pour selection here should be a highlight reel, not an afterthought. Glass pours run $16-$30, which is Aspen-priced but not unreasonable given the quality of what's on offer. Whether the BTG list rotates actively or stays locked in is unclear, but the sommelier team here has the tools to make it interesting.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Southern Rhône) — $80-$120/bottle (estimated entry-level)
In a list dominated by four-figure Burgundy and Bordeaux, a well-chosen Southern Rhône from Châteauneuf-du-Pape represents the best relative value — big, structured wine with serious appellation credibility at a price point that won't require a second mortgage. Ask the sommelier to point you toward their entry-level producer pour.
Grower-Producer Champagne
Most tables here are going to gravitate toward the famous Champagne houses, but Element 47 carries grower-producers alongside the big names — smaller, terroir-driven bottlings that most people walk right past. These bottles offer more character and often better price-to-quality than the prestige cuvée you're reflexively ordering.
Top Napa Cabernet Sauvignon (by the glass)
Ordering a flagship Napa Cab by the glass at these prices means paying a significant per-pour premium on a wine that was probably opened hours ago. If Napa is your move, commit to a bottle — or redirect that spend toward a Côte-Rôtie that will actually surprise you.
Hermitage (Northern Rhône) + Seasonal American farm-to-table beef entrée
A Northern Rhône Hermitage — all Syrah, savory and structured — is exactly the wine you want against a roasted or braised beef preparation from Element 47's seasonal menu. It has the weight to match and the complexity to actually compete with whatever the kitchen is doing.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Element 47 is the rare mountain resort wine program that could hold its own in any major city — 3,300 labels, proper storage, knowledgeable staff, and glassware that actually fits the wine. Prices are high because Aspen is high, but if you're going to spend serious money on a bottle somewhere, this is a place that respects the investment.
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Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
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Proper
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Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
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Set & Forget
Proper
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Surprising Depth
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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