Burgundy Royalty Meets D.C. Fine Dining
Washington · French · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Jônt’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into a 17-seat chef's counter experience, the wine list feels less like a menu and more like a statement. Jônt is not here to play it safe — DRC and Henri Jayer share real estate with Harlan Estate and Screaming Eagle, and everything about it reads intentional. This is the kind of list that makes you want to clear your calendar for the evening.
The 300-500 bottle list leans hard into its strengths: Burgundy and California are the twin pillars, and they're stacked. Rousseau's Gevrey-Chambertin and Leroy Bourgogne anchor the French side alongside blue-chip Bordeaux like Château Pétrus and Château Margaux, while the California section reads like a trophy case — Kistler, Sine Qua Non, Opus One. There are no real gaps here, just a list that has decided it's going to do the big stuff right rather than scatter across every corner of the wine world. The Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2022 is well-earned — this list has the receipts.
With 20-35 options by the glass, Jônt offers more pours than most tasting-menu spots bother with, which matters when you're navigating a multi-course progression. The range likely mirrors the bottle list's focus on France and California, giving you real options at each course rather than the usual two-white-two-red shuffle. A strong by-the-glass program at this level of dining is a genuine differentiator.
Kistler Chardonnay — $80
At the lower end of the bottle range, Kistler delivers serious California Chardonnay — rich, precise, and benchmarked against Burgundy in quality. In a list where bottles climb fast into the hundreds, this is where you get the most wine for your dollar.
Leroy Bourgogne
Everyone's eyes go straight to the DRC and Rousseau, and rightfully so. But Leroy's village-level Bourgogne is a back-door entry into one of Burgundy's most obsessive producers — farmed biodynamically, made with the same rigor as bottles that cost ten times as much. Most tables walk right past it chasing the bigger names.
Opus One
A fine wine, no question — but Opus One is on every list in America, it's easy to find retail, and at fine-dining markup you're paying a significant premium for a bottle you can source without much effort. With Harlan and Screaming Eagle in the same section, the marginal dollar is better spent going further up the California ladder.
Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin + Wagyu beef
Gevrey at Rousseau's level brings that combination of iron-fisted structure and silky red fruit that holds up to rich Wagyu fat without getting lost in it. The earthiness in the wine echoes any truffle or umami notes in the preparation, and the finish is long enough to last between bites.
The Bottom Line
Jônt is the rare D.C. restaurant where the wine list is as deliberate and ambitious as the food — if you're going to spend the money on the tasting menu, spend a little more and drink something from this list that you won't forget. Yes, send your friends here for wine.
Washington · Washington · Seafood
Oceanaire is a safe, well-executed wine destination for California Chardonnay lovers who want reliable bottles with their seafood without too many surprises. Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence since 2017 is well-earned for what it is — just know this list was built for comfort, not adventure.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Georgetown · Washington · French
Lutèce is a strong place to explore French wine with a firm budget in mind. The posted list runs from a $64 Southern Rhône red to $600 Champagne, so tell Chris Ray what you want to spend and let that guide the conversation. Confirm prices and availability when you book or arrive.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Washington, DC · Washington · Steakhouse
STK DC is a vibe restaurant that treats wine as an accessory, not a feature. If you're here for the scene, the cocktails will serve you better than the list ever will.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Washington · Middle Eastern / North African
Maydan's wine list is one of the most geographically coherent and genuinely adventurous in Washington, DC — it matches the kitchen's ambition and then some. If you're willing to let go of the familiar, this is one of the best by-the-glass programs in the city for opening your eyes to what the wine world looks like beyond Europe.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Washington · Restaurant
Moon Rabbit's wine list is doing something rare: it's short enough to read in two minutes and interesting enough to talk about for twenty. If you care about well-chosen, adventurous bottles at prices that won't wreck your dinner bill, send your people here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Washington · Washington · Spanish
Xiquet is doing something genuinely rare in D.C. — a tightly edited, Spain-first wine program inside a room that actually earns it. Four sommeliers and a Wood Spectator Award of Excellence since 2023 confirm this isn't an accident; just know you're paying for the setting as much as the bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Paso Robles · French
Cépage is a destination restaurant in a destination wine region — the kind of place you plan a Saturday around, not somewhere you stumble into. The wine program appears honest to its terroir and purpose, though pricing at this caliber of operation rarely favors the guest. If you're already out on Highway 46 with a reservation in hand, you're likely going to have a very good time; just don't arrive expecting a sprawling global list or a killer value-hunting opportunity.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Weston · Weston · French
The Left Bank is the rare small-town wine program that genuinely surprises you — not by accident, but because someone with real taste built it. If you're driving through Vermont and need a reason to stop in Weston, this list is it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Topeka · French
Chez Yasu clearly puts its energy into the kitchen, not the cellar — but two grocery-store wines at a notable markup is not a wine program, it's an oversight. Order water, order a cocktail, or call ahead and ask about corkage.
Grocery Store
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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