Portland's French bistro with serious wine intentions
Northwest 23rd · Portland · Rustic French / Northwest French · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 17, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed St. Jack’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walk into St. Jack and the wine list hits like a well-curated French record collection — deep on the classics, with enough Oregon representation to remind you where you actually are. For a neighborhood bistro on NW 23rd, the ambition here is real. This isn't a list assembled by a distributor rep with a clipboard; someone genuinely cared.
The 150-to-250-bottle range skews heavily French, which makes complete sense given the kitchen's Lyon-via-Portland soul. France anchors the list with serious regional depth, while Oregon earns its own real estate rather than feeling like a token nod to local pride. The presence of a sommelier on staff shows — this isn't a list that treats Burgundy and Beaujolais as the same thing. The one gap worth noting: if you're hunting outside France and Oregon, you may find the edges thin.
Ten to sixteen options by the glass gives you enough room to explore without paralysis. The inclusion of les pots lyonnais — those charming three-quarter-liter French carafes — is a smart, convivial move that fits the bistro format perfectly and makes splitting a 'bottle' feel effortless. Rotation details aren't published, but with a knowledgeable floor team, asking what's open is always worth it.
Les Pots Lyonnais (three-quarter carafe) — N/A
The three-quarter carafe format is the move here — more wine than a glass, less commitment than a bottle, and priced to reflect it. It's the French way, and at St. Jack it just works.
Kelly Fox Weber Vineyard Oregon Wine
Kelly Fox is one of Oregon's most quietly serious producers, and a Weber Vineyard bottling showing up on a French-focused list is the kind of curatorial flex most people will walk right past. Don't.
French Sauvignon Blanc
Generic French Sauvignon Blanc on a list this thoughtful tends to be the safe, unadventurous pour — the one that's been sitting in the same spot since the list launched. With this much else going on, don't settle.
Kelly Fox Weber Vineyard Oregon Wine + Chicken Liver Mousse
Oregon Pinot from a producer like Kelly Fox brings enough earthy depth and restrained fruit to cut through the richness of the mousse without bullying it — this is the kind of pairing that makes the whole table stop talking.
The Bottom Line
St. Jack is the rare Portland restaurant where the wine list earns as much respect as the kitchen. The French-Oregon axis is well-executed, the staff knows what they're talking about, and the pot lyonnais format alone is worth the trip.
Dundee · Portland · Italian, French, American
The official site identifies The Dundee Bistro as closed. The wine selections described here are historical context, not current availability. This notice does not establish a closure date or a future reopening.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Pearl District · Portland · Italian/Mediterranean
A restaurant list with 15 pours by the glass from $11 to $17 and a bottle list from 40 to 1100, split by country. Start with the Hacienda Lopez de Haro Rioja Crianza '22 at $12, or the Tenuta di Lilliano Chianti Classico '22 at $16 alongside the Radiatore, and confirm prices because the list is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Southeast Portland · Portland · Charcuterie/American
A charcuterie restaurant with a natural-leaning wine list and a 12-pour glass list on the dinner menu. Start with the $14/glass Hoppenot gamay, or split the $55 Stick Figurine orange wine across a board, and confirm current availability. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
King · Portland · Spanish
A Spanish tapas-bar wine page with glass and bottle prices from 13/50 and a ten-sherry list. Start with the Pago del Cielo Celeste Verdejo at 13 a glass, try the chilled Vara y Pulgar Tintilla at 17 if you want something different, and order the Miquel Pons Cava with the croquetas. The page says the posted menu may differ from the restaurant's, so confirm prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Portland · New American with Asian Influences
A long list sorted by style, with glass pours from $9.50 to $20, a Coravin tier above that, and bottles that climb to $750. Start with the A to Z at $13.50 or the Roederer Estate Brut at $20, and confirm current prices because the list isn't dated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Alberta Arts · Portland · Italian
An Italian-leaning bottle list with an Oregon side, and no glass pours posted. Order the $65 Bow and Arrow Gamay, or the $65 Keltis 'Zan White' Slovenian Orange Blend if you want an orange wine, and confirm availability. This unrated guide covers the posted Spring & Summer ’26 beverage menu, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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