Three Cabs Walk Into Bloomington
· Bloomington · Wine Shop with Food-Friendly Offerings · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Le Marchand De Vin’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You open the wine list and it's three bottles — all Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, all within a $28 price band. That's not a wine list, that's a shelf at a hotel gift shop. To be fair, these are decent producers, but the singular focus raises an immediate question: who is this for?
The entire program is a Napa Cab triptych: Buehler Papa Knolls Vineyard 2019, Round Pond Estate 2021, and Amulet Napa Valley 2019. Three solid-to-good Cabernets from California's most recognizable appellation — no whites, no rosé, no sparkling, no old world, nothing remotely adventurous. If you're hosting a Napa Cab tasting at home, this is fine. If you want anything else, you're out of luck. The price range of $62–$90 is actually in line with retail on these bottles, so at least the restaurant isn't gouging you for the privilege of having no choice.
By-the-glass options are unconfirmed from available data, so we can't say with confidence what's available as a pour. Given the three-bottle list, the options are almost certainly limited — if pours exist at all. This is a shop-forward setup, and it shows.
Buehler Papa Knolls Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 — $62
The most approachable price point on the list, and Buehler's Papa Knolls bottling punches above its tier — structured, age-worthy Napa Cab without the triple-digit ego tax.
Buehler Papa Knolls Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Buehler doesn't get the hype that Round Pond or flashier Napa names command, but their single-vineyard Cabs have a track record. At $62 here, it's the one bottle on this list that has something to say.
Amulet Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
At $90, you're paying for Napa prestige branding on a wine that doesn't clearly outperform the Buehler sitting $28 cheaper. When the list is only three deep, the ceiling bottle needs to justify itself — this one doesn't quite make the case.
Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 + Charcuterie or cured meat board
Round Pond's estate Cab has the structure and dark fruit to stand up to cured meats and aged cheeses — a classic move that works here even when the food menu is unclear, because this is exactly the kind of wine a shop like this would put out with a board.
The Bottom Line
Le Marchand De Vin is selling wine, not a wine experience — and with three Napa Cabs as your entire universe, it reads more like a curated shelf display than a real program. Come if you specifically want Napa Cab at fair prices; come elsewhere if you want anything else.
· Bloomington · New American
The Eastside BloNo has no business offering Gruner Veltliner and Grenache by the glass for under three bucks in central Illinois, and yet here we are. It's not a destination wine list, but the pricing is so aggressively reasonable that it earns a hard recommendation — show up, drink widely, and spend almost nothing.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Bloomington · Steakhouse
LongHorn's wine list exists to check a box, not to elevate your meal. Stick to the Riesling or the Meiomi, enjoy your steak, and don't expect the wine program to be the reason you came.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Bloomington · Steakhouse
Logan's Roadhouse is a perfectly fine place to eat a steak and throw peanut shells on the floor — but the wine list is an afterthought, and the markup makes ordering a bottle feel like a small punishment. Stick to one glass of the Riesling or pivot to a beer.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Bloomington · Bloomington · Steakhouse/American
Jim's isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't pretend otherwise — but the markups are fair, the selections are well-matched to the food, and there's enough range to keep things interesting for a night out. Send a friend here for the steak; the wine will hold up just fine.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bloomington · Bloomington · American
You're not coming to Hy-Vee Market Grille for a wine revelation — but on a Wednesday, with half-price pours and half-price sushi, it's one of the better casual deals in town. Manage expectations, bring cash, and embrace the absurdity.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Bloomington · Bloomington · Upscale Italian
Biaggi's is a perfectly decent dinner out, but the wine list is running on autopilot — familiar brands, steep markups, and zero curiosity. Order the Chianti, enjoy the pasta, and don't expect the wine to be the reason you come back.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
