Serious Bottles at a Waterfront Burger Joint
City Point / Waterfront · New Haven · Casual Grill / Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 3, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You're here for a burger and a beer, and then you see Ramey Chardonnay and Mocali Brunello on the list. That's not a typo. Shell & Bones has quietly assembled a 26-label list that has no business being this interesting at a casual waterfront grill.
The list leans California-heavy with some sharp French and Italian anchors — Grgich Hills Fumé Blanc, Sandhi Chardonnay, and a Domaine Jolly Petit Chablis give the whites real range. The half-bottle format is a genuinely smart move here: Pride Cab, Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc, and a Mocali Brunello di Montalcino 2018 let you drink serious wine without committing to a full bottle when you're splitting a plate of bar bites. Spain gets a nod but the list is clearly California and France at its core, with Italy showing up in all the right places.
Twenty options by the glass on a 26-bottle list is an aggressive ratio — almost everything pours by the glass, which is genuinely useful for a casual format. The ceiling is high: Ramey Russian River Chardonnay at $34 a glass is a legitimate splurge option that most places wouldn't even stock. Just know that with a list this size rotating glasses can get inconsistent depending on what's open.
Peterson Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek — $38
At the low end of the bottle range, Dry Creek Cab punches above its price point with real structure and fruit. It's the move if you want a red that works with a burger without blowing your budget on a half-bottle of Pride.
Sandhi Chardonnay, Central Coast
Sandhi is Rajat Parr's low-intervention project and it consistently drinks like wine that costs twice as much. Most people at a burger bar will reach for something familiar — don't be that person.
Moët & Chandon Imperial Champagne Brut NV 187ml
Thirty-five dollars for a single-serving split of Moët is a hard sell when Gaston Chiquet 1er Cru is on the same list. The juice isn't even in the same league — you're paying for the logo.
Grgich Hills Fumé Blanc, Napa + Grilled Seafood
Grgich's Fumé Blanc has enough body and herbaceous drive to hold up to char from the grill while keeping the seafood in focus. It's a textbook match that actually shows up on this list.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Shell & Bones shouldn't have a wine list this interesting, and that's exactly what makes it worth paying attention to. The markups sting on a few bottles but the half-bottle program and deep glass pour selection make it easy to drink well without committing to a full splurge.
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