Paris called. It wants its wine list back.
Washington · French · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Pastis’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Pastis lands like a well-worn Michelin guide — heavy, purposeful, and very French. Burgundy and Bordeaux are clearly the religion here, and the list is written like a love letter to both. This is a program built by someone who actually cares, not someone who just called a distributor and said 'send whatever.'
With 300 to 500 bottles anchored almost entirely in France, Pastis keeps its focus tight and its ambition high. The Burgundy section is where this list earns its stripes — Domaine Leroy, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet, and Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet are not names you stumble across on a Wednesday night in most cities, let alone Northeast DC. Bordeaux holds its own with Château Léoville-Las Cases, Ducru-Beaucaillou, and Pichon Baron representing the Left Bank with real credibility. If you're hunting outside France, you may find the list thin — this is not the place to explore the Rhône Valley, let alone anything from Italy or the New World.
Twenty to thirty-five pours by the glass is a generous program, and given the cellar depth here, there's a real opportunity to sip something serious without committing to a full bottle. We'd expect the glass list to rotate classics from Burgundy and Bordeaux, which means even casual diners can access wines that most restaurants would never open mid-service. Ask Dave Segall or his team what's pouring — they'll steer you right.
Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin — $45
In a list stacked with Leroy and DRC, Jadot's Gevrey-Chambertin is the entry point that actually delivers. Solid village-level Pinot from a reliable négociant, and at the lower end of this list's price range, it's the move for anyone who wants a taste of Burgundy without the sticker shock.
Domaine Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet
Everyone at this table is chasing the DRC, which means Ramonet's Chassagne-Montrachet often gets overlooked. That's a mistake. Ramonet is one of the great white Burgundy producers, and Chassagne-Montrachet is a village that punches well above what most people expect. It's serious wine that doesn't require a special occasion budget to justify.
Château Pichon Baron
A great wine, no argument there — but at a French bistro in DC, the markup on trophy Bordeaux like Pichon Baron is going to reflect the name on the label more than the juice in the glass. If you're not celebrating a promotion or a milestone birthday, there are better value plays on this list.
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou + Duck Confit
Ducru-Beaucaillou's Cabernet-dominant blend has the structure and dark fruit to stand up to the rich, fatty depth of a proper duck confit without steamrolling it. It's a classic bistro moment — the kind of pairing that makes you set your phone down and just eat.
The Bottom Line
Pastis is playing a different game than most DC restaurants — a focused, France-first program with genuine depth in Burgundy and Bordeaux, a knowledgeable floor team, and the glassware to back it up. If French wine is your thing, this list is absolutely worth the reservation.
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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