Paris called. It wants its wine list back.
Washington · French · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed April 7, 2026 · How we review
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 · Mediterranean
Zaytinya's wine list is one of the more focused and honest Greek programs you'll find at a mid-to-high scale restaurant in D.C. The by-the-glass selection is wide, the pricing doesn't insult you, and the Greek variety depth is genuinely impressive. If you've been waiting for a reason to finally figure out what Xinomavro tastes like, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Washington · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão's wine list is exactly what a national Brazilian steakhouse chain's wine list looks like: functional, familiar, and priced for margin rather than your benefit. The by-the-glass count is impressive on paper, but most of the options are labels you've seen at your grocery store for a fraction of what they're charging here. If you're coming for the meat — and you should be — stick to the Catena Malbec and enjoy the show.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Washington · Washington · Steak House
A 20-wine by-the-glass list with every pour between $14 and $30, split across four sparkling, six white, two rosé and eight red. With a steak, start with the $26 Clos Duval Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or the $22 Monte Antico Supremus; for the cheapest glass, take the $14 Dr. Loosen Riesling. Pour sizes aren't posted and the page is undated, so confirm today's wines. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown DC · Washington · Steakhouse
A steakhouse beverage menu with 30 wines by the glass and a bottle list that is mostly California, with some France, Italy and Portugal. Start with the $9/glass happy hour Bonanza Cabernet if you arrive in the window, or the Eroica Riesling, the only Riesling on the glass list, and ask for prices because regular wine prices aren't posted. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Georgetown · Washington · Seafood, Steakhouse
An unpriced list that is easier to read for what it offers than for what it costs. If you want Bordeaux, ask for the 2020 Margaux de Brane Cantenac, or look at the Brunello di Montalcino in Sommelier's Selections, and get the price before you commit. This unrated guide covers the posted Beverage Menu, not service, storage or markups.
Washington · Washington · Latin, Vegetarian
A wide-ranging list with 14 wines by the glass from $17 to $95 and a bottle book that runs from $60 to $1,275. Start with the $17 Eichinger Grüner Veltliner or the $20 Pêcheur Trousseau, and ask for the Natural Wines section if you want something low-intervention. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
River Market · Kansas City · French
A French-led list with 25 two-price wines up front and a long run of Burgundy, Bordeaux and Rhône bottles behind them. Start with the Chinon Le Garenne at 42 or the Cornas 'Granit 60' at 88, ask which number is the glass price, and confirm prices, since the page is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Union Square · San Francisco · French
A 66-page list that starts with a 20-pour glass page and moves quickly into Burgundy, Rhône and Bordeaux bottles priced in the hundreds and thousands, so decide early whether you are drinking by the glass or committing to a bottle. Start with the $20 Chablis or the $23 Corsican red, and confirm today's list because it carries no print date. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Meatpacking District · New York · French
A French wine list with a wide price ladder: $16 glasses, $40 half bottles and $60 full bottles at the bottom, Pétrus and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti at the top. Start with the $16 Famille Coulon Rhône white by the glass, or spend $115 on the Marcel Deiss Alsace pinot noir, and check prices because the two PDFs show different bottle prices for Delos. This unrated guide covers the posted wine lists, not service, storage or markups.
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
