Poor Calvin's
Solid pours without the fuss in Midtown
Midtown · Atlanta · Asian Fusion · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Poor Calvin's is short, approachable, and built for people who know what they like without wanting to think too hard about it. It's a 39-label list that leans on recognizable names — Rombauer, Catena, Educated Guess — the kind of bottles that sell themselves. Nothing here is going to surprise you, but nothing is going to embarrass you either.
Selection Deep Dive
The list skews white-heavy with a decent spread across Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Riesling, plus a nod to Albarino and a legitimate Chablis from Domaine Louis Moreau that earns its spot. The reds are workmanlike — Hahn Pinot Noir, Catena Malbec, Earthquake Zinfandel — reliable grocery-store-adjacent names that cover the bases without going anywhere interesting. There's a glaring absence of anything from Italy's red side, no Burgundy, no Rhône, and the 'eclectic' dial is firmly turned to zero. Volver Tempranillo is the one bottle that gestures toward something more interesting, and it's a pleasant outlier on an otherwise predictable red roster.
By the Glass
Seventeen by-the-glass options is a genuinely solid count for a restaurant of this size and type. At $14–$15 a glass, pricing is consistent if not exactly generous — you're paying Atlanta restaurant rates here, which means the math on bottles is considerably better if you're a two-glass-minimum table. The BTG selection mirrors the list's safe-harbor philosophy: familiar grapes, familiar producers, nothing that's going to start a conversation.
Burgans Albarino — $14
Albarino at a $14 pour is a solid deal — this is a food-friendly, citrusy white that punches above its price point and works hard against most flavor profiles on a fusion menu.
Dr. Loosen Blue Slate Riesling
Most diners walk right past Riesling on a list like this, which is their loss. The Blue Slate is a genuine Mosel wine with enough structure and brightness to cut through richer dishes — it's the most interesting white on the menu and almost nobody orders it.
Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay
Rombauer Chardonnay is fine, but it's everywhere, it's heavily marked up at every restaurant that carries it, and you're paying a name-recognition tax. The Domaine Louis Moreau Chablis will serve you better for less ego.
Origine Sancerre + Any citrus-forward or lightly spiced seafood dish
Sancerre's saline minerality and grassy lift are a natural counterweight to bright, acid-driven Asian fusion preparations — it keeps everything clean and doesn't fight the kitchen.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Poor Calvin's wine list is a dependable, if uninspired, companion to what's clearly a kitchen-first restaurant. We'd send a friend here knowing they'll drink fine — just don't expect the wine to be the reason you go back.
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