French Classics Meet Korean Fire
Midtown West · New York · Korean · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Kochi NYC’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into Kochi, you don't expect a Burgundy-heavy list to be your companion for a Korean tasting menu — and that's exactly the point. The wine program feels deliberate, almost audacious, built around the idea that French acidity and earthiness can hold their own against doenjang, gochujang, and charred short rib. It's a thesis, and it mostly works.
The list runs 150-200 bottles deep with a clear French spine: Burgundy anchors the red side with producers like Henri Jayer and, yes, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti at the top of the pyramid, while Alsace gets serious representation from Trimbach and Zind-Humbrecht — a smart call given how well those aromatics bridge Korean fermented flavors. Loire Valley shows up strong with Dagueneau and Henri Bourgeois, and the Rhône corner brings Château Rayas and Domaine Tempier for anyone who wants something with more grip and funk. Champagne by Krug and Billecart-Salmon covers the opening pour with no shortcuts. The gap is everywhere outside France — this is not a list for New World explorers, and that's a conscious choice.
Twelve to eighteen pours by the glass is a solid number for a restaurant this focused, with prices running $12–$25 — respectable for New York, especially when the pours likely lean toward the producers already in the cellar. There's no evidence of aggressive rotation or a dedicated BTG program beyond the standard offering, but with Alsace and Loire options presumably accessible by the glass, you can drink well without committing to a full bottle.
Henri Bourgeois Sancerre — $15
Loire Sauvignon Blanc at this price point cuts through banchan and seafood preparations with precision — bright acidity, mineral edge, and enough weight to handle Kochi's umami-forward dishes without getting lost.
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rouge
Most people chase the Burgundy names here and miss this Mourvèdre-driven southern Rhône — it's earthy, herb-edged, and genuinely built for charred meat. Order it with the galbi and thank yourself later.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Look, DRC is always DRC, but at a Korean tasting menu in Midtown West, the markup on bottles at this tier is severe, and the delicate tertiary complexity gets bulldozed by fermented and grilled flavors. Drink it somewhere you can sit with it properly.
Trimbach Riesling Alsace + Doenjang-based course
Trimbach's Riesling is dry, precise, and has that petrol-and-citrus backbone that mirrors the funk and depth of fermented soybean paste without competing with it — one of the more intuitive pairings on a list full of interesting choices.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Kochi is the rare restaurant where the wine list feels like part of the concept, not an afterthought — French producers chosen to wrestle thoughtfully with Korean flavors, and a sommelier in Olive Ko who clearly believes in the pairing. Steep on price at the top end, but if you're eating the tasting menu anyway, lean into the Alsace and Loire pours and let the room do its thing.
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
Hell's Kitchen · New York · Korean
A Korean handroll bar with a Wine Spectator Award and a Burgundy-forward list curated by someone who clearly thought about what goes in your glass alongside what goes in your hand — that's a Wild Card worth cashing in. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Northeast Portland · Portland · Korean
Han Oak is the rarest kind of restaurant wine program: one where the list was built for the food, not the other way around. Send your friends here, but tell them to surrender to the format — it's worth it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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