Solid steakhouse pours, no surprises necessary
Lansdowne / Tates Creek · Lexington · Steakhouse, American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 4, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Malone's – Lansdowne’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Malone's Lansdowne reads like a greatest hits album from your local wine shop — the big names are all here, everything is familiar, and nothing is going to shock you. It fits the room: polished, comfortable, and built for people who know what they like and aren't in the mood to experiment. That's not a knock, but it's also not a destination list.
The 100-plus labels lean hard into California, with Napa and Sonoma doing most of the heavy lifting. You've got Caymus, Jordan, Meiomi, Kendall-Jackson — the dependable anchors of every steakhouse list from Lexington to Louisville. Pacific Northwest makes a supporting appearance, but if you're hunting for Burgundy, Barolo, or anything with a little Old World soul, you're going to come up short. The range is $40 to $160 a bottle, which sounds accessible until you realize these are retail-familiar bottles priced at restaurant margins that don't exactly reward loyalty.
Twelve to eighteen pours by the glass is a decent spread for a steakhouse of this size, running $10 to $18. The lineup mirrors the bottle list — California-forward, crowd-friendly, no real curveballs. Don't expect rotation or anything off the beaten path; this program is set and left alone.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley — $60–$80 estimated bottle
Jordan is a genuine quality producer in Alexander Valley and a natural fit for a USDA prime ribeye. Of the Cabernets on this list, it's the one that actually earns its price tag rather than just coasting on name recognition.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Most people write off Santa Margherita as overpriced airport wine, and at retail they're not wrong — but at a steakhouse, it's a smart order for anyone splitting a table where someone wants a light white while others go big red. It holds up against the richer appetizers and doesn't embarrass itself.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Caymus is everywhere, and it's everywhere because it sells — not because it overdelivers. At steakhouse markup, you're paying a premium for a bottle that's been a status shorthand for so long it's forgotten how to be interesting. Jordan is right there on the same list for less ceremony.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley + USDA Prime Steak
Classic for a reason. Jordan's structured tannins and dark fruit cut through the richness of a prime steak without bullying it off the plate — this is the combination Malone's is quietly built around, even if nobody says it out loud.
The Bottom Line
Malone's Lansdowne is a reliable neighborhood steakhouse with a wine list that does exactly what it needs to do and not much more. Send a friend here for a good steak and a Jordan Cab — just don't send them expecting discovery.
South Lexington / Harrodsburg Road · Lexington · Italian, Contemporary Italian, Seafood
Giuseppe's isn't a wine destination, but Monday night half-price bottles make it one of the better value plays in Lexington — show up then, lean on the seafood, and you'll leave happy. Any other night, the markups ask a lot and the list doesn't ask you to think very hard.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Lansdowne / Nicholasville Road · Lexington · Italian-American
Sutton's isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly reasonable place to drink a bottle of Chianti while someone else handles the cooking. The Tignanello alone earns this list a second look if you know to ask for it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Gratz Park · Lexington · New American / Southern
Jonathan at Gratz Park is the kind of reliable wine room you'd expect from a historic inn with a real sommelier — competent, well-stocked, and leaning safe. Pricing is on the steeper side and the list won't surprise you, but in Lexington, this is still one of the better places to order a full bottle with dinner.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palomar / Harrodsburg Road · Lexington · Italian, Seasonal American-Influenced
Bella Notte isn't a wine destination, but it's a reliable neighborhood spot with one genuinely smart move: Thursday half-price bottles turn a steep list into a real value play. Go on a Thursday, order the Decoy Cab with a wood-grilled steak, and you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Lexington · Italian
ItalX is a dependable Italian wine list for a night out downtown — not exciting, but not embarrassing either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well enough, as long as they steer toward the Italian reds and away from the obvious tourist traps.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Summit at Fritz Farm · Lexington · New American / Southern
33 Staves is a perfectly competent hotel wine list in a city where nobody's really coming for the wine. Drink it for what it is, keep your expectations calibrated, and save the serious bottle hunting for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
River Road · Gatlinburg · Steakhouse, American
The Peddler is a legitimately great steakhouse experience in a gorgeous setting, and the wine list is competent enough to get the job done — but it's a supporting cast, not a destination. Order the Jordan, get the steak, enjoy the river view, and don't expect the list to surprise you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Parkway · Gatlinburg · Steakhouse, American
Alamo Steakhouse is genuinely great at what it does — the oak-fired meats are the draw and they deliver. But the wine list is purely functional, overpriced for what it is, and built for tourists who aren't going to push back on a Kendall-Jackson upcharge. Come for the steak, order a bourbon, and save the wine enthusiasm for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lionshead · Vail · Steakhouse, American
Vail Chophouse is a dependable après-ski and dinner destination that plays its wine program straight down the middle — familiar names, steep but expected mountain-town pricing, and a list that won't let you down if you stick to the California Cabs. We'd send a friend here for the steak and the view, with a note to skip the Josh and go straight to Jordan.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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