Forbes Mill Steakhouse
California Cab Country, Done Right
Danville · Danville · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 10, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Forbes Mill Steakhouse reads like a greatest-hits album of California wine — every name your uncle would recognize, presented with the confidence of a room that knows exactly who it's serving. It's not trying to surprise you, and it doesn't need to. This is a place where people come to celebrate, and the list is built accordingly.
Selection Deep Dive
With 150-250 bottles and a clear California focus, the list leans hard into Napa Cabernet and doesn't apologize for it. Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Paul Hobbs, and Opus One cover the prestige Cab spectrum from reliable to eye-watering, while Duckhorn holds down Merlot and Far Niente and Cakebread handle the Chardonnay side. Flowers Pinot Noir is the lone nod toward coastal California and arguably the most interesting bottle on the list. Don't come here hunting for Burgundy, Barolo, or anything with a screw cap — this list has a lane and stays in it.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty-five by-the-glass options is genuinely generous for a steakhouse, and at $12–$22 per pour, there's room to explore without committing to a full bottle. The glass program tracks the bottle list — California-heavy, approachable, crowd-friendly — but the sheer volume of options means you can build a decent meal pour by pour if you're indecisive or dining solo.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $12–$22 by the glass
Jordan consistently punches above its price point — it's an Alexander Valley Cab with real elegance and structure, and at steakhouse glass prices it's far better value than the trophy bottles crowding the top of the list.
Flowers Vineyards Pinot Noir
In a list dominated by Napa Cab, this Sonoma Coast Pinot is the quiet outlier most tables will overlook while ordering their third Caymus. It's the most texturally interesting bottle here, and it earns its spot.
Opus One
A trophy wine at a trophy markup — you're paying for the label as much as what's in the glass. The money goes further almost anywhere else on this list.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime Ribeye
Stag's Leap brings classic Napa structure with enough elegance to let the ribeye's fat and char do the talking — it's the kind of match that makes you understand why California Cab became shorthand for steakhouse wine in the first place.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Forbes Mill is a dependable, California-centric steakhouse list that plays to its crowd without much adventure — Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence is well-earned for execution, even if the spirit is more comfort than discovery. Send your Cab-loving friends here without hesitation; send your natural wine friends somewhere else.
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