Park Avenue power dining done right
Midtown East · New York · American, French · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Four Twenty Five lands like the room itself — serious, glamorous, and not apologizing for it. You flip through 400-plus selections and realize quickly this isn't a list assembled by a corporate committee; it's a curated argument for why France and California still run the show. If you're here on an expense account or celebrating something real, you're in the right place.
France dominates, as it should at a Jean-Georges property channeling this kind of old-world energy — Burgundy and Bordeaux are the twin engines, with names like Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, Château Pétrus, and Château Margaux anchoring the prestige end. Champagne gets proper treatment too, with Krug Grande Cuvée and Louis Roederer Cristal on the list rather than tucked away as afterthoughts. California punches in with Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Kistler, and Opus One — the usual trophy shelf, yes, but assembled with intention. Sauternes fans get Château d'Yquem, and Italy shows up credibly with Sassicaia rounding out a list that earns its Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence without breaking a sweat.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is a serious program for a room at this level, and the team — Jamie Cohen, Quinn Heydt, and Brandon Anderson — keeps it from feeling like a static inventory dump. Expect rotating pours that reflect the kitchen's seasonal direction and staff who can actually tell you why one Burgundy is on the glass list and another isn't.
Kistler Vineyards Chardonnay — $80
At the entry point of this list, Kistler is doing a lot of heavy lifting — a world-class California Chardonnay that typically retires well above this on lists with less restraint. If you're not ready to climb the Burgundy ladder tonight, start here.
Château d'Yquem Sauternes
Most tables skip dessert wine entirely, which means d'Yquem sits overlooked on lists that absolutely deserve it. Order a glass with the foie gras and reconsider every decision you've ever made at a restaurant.
Opus One
Opus One is the wine people order when they want to signal something. At Four Twenty Five, where the Burgundy and Bordeaux programs are genuinely elite, spending on Opus One is a lateral move at best — you can do so much better for the same money on this list.
Krug Grande Cuvée Champagne + Dover Sole
Krug's Grande Cuvée has the weight and oxidative complexity to actually stand up to a properly buttered Dover sole — this isn't a delicate Blanc de Blancs situation. The richness in both cuts through and complements simultaneously, and it makes the whole thing feel like a special occasion even if it's a random Tuesday.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Four Twenty Five is the kind of list you send a serious wine-drinking friend to when they want to eat well and drink even better in Midtown — the room, the sommelier team, and the cellar are all firing at the same level. Just go in knowing the markups match the zip code, and plan accordingly.
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Huntly · Huntly · American, French
Houndstooth is the kind of place you'd never stumble across, which is exactly why we're telling you about it. Drive out, let someone else drive back, and let the list do the work.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Huntington Beach · Huntington Beach · American, French
Henry's is a reliable, well-tended California wine program with a genuine expert behind it — not flashy, but consistently good. If you're eating on PCH and want a bottle that was actually chosen with care, this is your spot.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Fargo · West Fargo · American, French
Maxwells is the kind of wine program that earns real respect in context — a thoughtfully stocked, sommelier-guided list in a city where 'wine program' often means a Merlot and a Pinot Grigio. If you're passing through West Fargo or lucky enough to live there, this is where you drink.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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