Old World Obsession Hiding in Tribeca
Tribeca · New York · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The list at Marc Forgione lands with the quiet confidence of someone who doesn't need to shout. Four hundred-plus bottles skewed hard toward France and Italy — this isn't a greatest-hits list, it's a collection. You know immediately that someone here cares.
Burgundy is the obvious anchor: DRC, Henri Jayer, and Domaine Leroy all make appearances, which tells you this list has both depth and a serious acquisition budget. Loire is punching above its weight too — Didier Dagueneau's Pouilly-Fumé and Henri Bourgeois Sancerre sit alongside each other like a proper Loire argument waiting to happen. The Rhône section brings Guigal's La Mouline and Château Rayas, two bottles that could carry a list on their own. Piedmont rounds it out with the holy trinity: Giacomo Conterno's Barolo Monfortino, Bartolo Mascarello, and Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco — you don't see all three in one place very often.
Twelve to eighteen options by the glass is a solid spread for a room this serious. We'd expect the pours to rotate with the kitchen's seasonal direction, though without a dedicated sommelier on staff, the selection likely leans toward safe, accessible choices rather than anything adventurous. What's there should be well-stored and properly served — the list's DNA suggests the bar is set high even for the casual pour.
Henri Bourgeois Sancerre — $60–$80 est.
Henri Bourgeois is one of the most consistent names in the Loire, and on a list that goes deep into four-figure Burgundy, this bottle is the entry point that actually drinks. Clean, precise, and exactly what you want with anything light coming out of the kitchen.
Domaine Tempier Bandol
Most people at this table are hunting Burgundy, which means the Tempier Bandol gets overlooked. That's a gift. One of the great wines of Provence — structured, earthy, built to last — and it tends to look inexpensive next to what's sitting around it on this list.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
It's here, it's real, and it's priced accordingly — which means the markup on a bottle already worth thousands is doing serious damage to your credit card. Unless someone else is paying, DRC at a restaurant is always a harder argument than DRC from a retailer.
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline + Apple Pie Soufflé
Hear us out: La Mouline's Viognier co-fermentation gives it a floral, almost honeyed edge that cuts against rich dessert in a way a big Syrah can't. It's an unexpected move that actually works — and it turns the soufflé into a proper wine moment rather than an afterthought.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Restaurant Marc Forgione earned its Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence every year since 2015, and the list holds up — old world obsession, serious producers, and the kind of depth that rewards people who actually read the back pages. Just know you're paying New York prices and come with a strategy.
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Southwest / Time Corners · Fort Wayne · American
Catablu is exactly what it needs to be for its neighborhood — a reliable, thoughtfully maintained list that won't embarrass you on a date night or bore you entirely. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a solid supporting act for a kitchen that clearly takes food seriously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Otay Ranch Town Center · Chula Vista · American
BJ's is a fine place to drink a craft beer and eat a Pizookie. It is not a place to drink wine. Order a Brewhouse Blonde, skip the wine list entirely, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American
The Cheesecake Factory is a perfectly fine place to eat — the wine list just isn't a reason to go. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of Santa Margherita if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
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.