RusTeak Restaurant & Wine Bar

RusTeak's wine list reads like a steakhouse playbook—California Cabs, a few token Pinots, some international heavyweights for the expense account crowd. Nothing here will shock you, but nothing will embarrass you either. It's the kind of list where you know exactly what you're getting before you flip the page.

The list skews heavily toward New World reds, with Napa and Sonoma dominating the Cab section and Argentina handling the value tier with Malbecs. There's a respectable showing from Washington State—expect Columbia Valley standards like Chateau Ste. Michelle and L'Ecole No. 41. The white section feels like an afterthought: a couple Chardonnays, some Sauvignon Blanc, maybe a Pinot Grigio for those who insist. Old World gets a token Bordeaux or two and possibly a Chianti, but this isn't where you come for Burgundy or Rhône exploration.

By-the-glass pours lean safe: a house Cab, a buttery Chardonnay, maybe a Malbec for the value-conscious. Rotation seems minimal—these are set-it-and-forget-it selections designed not to confuse the steak-and-potato crowd. Pours are generous enough, but don't expect anything adventurous or seasonal hitting the glass lineup.