Park Avenue power dining done right
Midtown East · New York · American, French · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Four Twenty Five Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
NoHo · New York · Italian
Il Buco has one of the most compelling Italian wine lists in New York City — deep, principled, and staffed by people who actually care. The markup is real, so budget accordingly, but this is a room worth splurging in.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Three happy hour wines do not a wine program make. Ocean Prime is a place you eat well and drink safely — but if wine is a priority, this list will let you down before the bread basket arrives.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Midtown is a great place to see and be seen, but the wine list is there to pad the check, not to excite you. If you're here for the experience, lean on the cocktails or grab a glass of Bonanza at the bar — don't expect the bottle list to reward any real curiosity.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
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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