California Royalty With Old World Backup
Los Gatos · Steakhouse
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Forbes Mill Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Forbes Mill lands with the kind of thud that makes you sit up straight — 300 to 500 bottles deep, anchored in California and reaching confidently into Italy and France. This is a list that takes itself seriously, and the warm, low-lit room full of prime cuts and dressed-up diners tells you this crowd came ready to spend. It's a classic steakhouse wine program done at a high level, and Wine Spectator has been handing them a Best of Award of Excellence since 2010 for good reason.
California dominates the way you'd expect — Caymus, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Far Niente, and the crown jewel Shafer Hillside Select all make appearances, plus Opus One for the table that needs a trophy bottle. Ridge Monte Bello is the intellectual pick in that California section, a wine that earns its price rather than trading on brand recognition. Italy shows up properly with Barolo from Gaja or Giacomo Conterno and Brunello from Biondi-Santi or Banfi — serious producers, not grocery store placeholders. The Rhône chapter rounds things out with Château Rayas, Château Beaucastel, and Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is a genuinely strong showing for a steakhouse.
With 20 to 35 pours available by the glass, Forbes Mill offers more flexibility than most steakhouses bother with. The range skews California-heavy as expected, giving you a real shot at a proper Cab without committing to a full bottle. We'd like to see more rotation and adventure here — it reads more like a curated greatest-hits selection than a dynamic program — but for a steakhouse in Los Gatos, it gets the job done.
Ridge Monte Bello — $150–$200 (estimated bottle range)
Among the prestige California Cabs on this list, Ridge Monte Bello is the one that makes wine drinkers lean in. It's structured, age-worthy, and built on Santa Cruz Mountains terroir rather than marketing muscle — and it typically sits at a more honest markup than the brand-name bottles surrounding it.
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape
In a room full of Napa Cabs, most people walk right past the Rhône section. That's a mistake. Vieux Télégraphe is one of the most consistent, food-friendly producers in the appellation — earthy, meaty, and built for exactly the kind of food Forbes Mill is serving. It's the move for the table that's tired of Cabernet.
Opus One
Opus One is the wine equivalent of ordering the most expensive thing on the menu to impress a date. The markup at a restaurant like this will push it well past what the wine is actually worth in a retail context, and the liquid inside the famous label rarely justifies the gap. There are better bets all over this list.
Shafer Vineyards Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime Ribeye
Hillside Select is one of the most intense, concentrated Cabs in the Napa Valley — big tannins, dark fruit, and enough structure to stand up to a well-marbled ribeye without blinking. It's an expensive call, but if you're going to splurge on a steak this good, this is how you close the loop.
The Bottom Line
Forbes Mill is the real deal for a California steakhouse wine program — deep list, serious producers, and a Rhône section that separates it from the competition. The markups sting and there's no dedicated sommelier to guide you through it, but the bones are strong enough that a little homework before you go pays off handsomely.
· Irvine · Steakhouse
Bourbon Steak Irvine is running one of the most ambitious wine programs in Orange County — 225 labels, 31 by the glass, and a list with genuine personality beyond the expected steakhouse anchors. Markups get steep at the top end, but the by-the-glass range at the $15–$32 tier offers real drinking at fair prices. If you care about what's in your glass, this list rewards the attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Irvine · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Costa Mesa is exactly what it is: a well-run corporate steakhouse with a Champagne list that punches above the room's ambition and a Chardonnay section that covers the safe California bases reliably. Markups are steep throughout and the list doesn't take any risks, but if you know what you want — a glass of Hartford Court or a bottle of Schramsberg before your steak — you'll be fine. Just don't come looking for discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Honolulu · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Hawaii's wine list does what the brand does everywhere — it's safe, corporate, and priced to capture resort-market margins. The Champagne selection is genuinely deep and includes some worthwhile picks like the Paul Bara and the Llopart Cava, but markups are steep and there's little here to excite anyone looking beyond the obvious. If you're here for a steak and want bubbles, you'll find something that works — just don't expect the list to dazzle you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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