Stars

You're sitting above the Atlantic with panoramic views of Chatham's coastline, and the wine list arrives like it knows exactly where it is — polished, confident, and unapologetically California-forward. This is a resort restaurant that takes wine seriously, and Victor Pichardo's presence as sommelier on staff makes that immediately clear. Wine Spectator has had this list on their Best of Award of Excellence roster since 2022, and nothing here feels like it's coasting on that credential.

The list runs 200-350 bottles deep with a clear center of gravity: California Cabernet and French Burgundy are the twin pillars, and both columns are stacked with names that mean something. Opus One, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Caymus, and Jordan anchor the California side with the kind of recognizable firepower that keeps resort guests happy. France gets equal respect — Louis Jadot, Joseph Drouhin, and Domaine Leflaive represent Burgundy at multiple quality tiers, giving the list actual depth rather than just famous labels. The gaps are real — if you're hunting Rhône, Loire, or anything outside the Franco-California axis, you'll need to lower your expectations — but within its focus, this list delivers.

With 12-20 pours available by the glass, Stars holds its own for a dining room that could easily phone this in. The selection skews toward accessible crowd-pleasers, which makes sense given the resort context, but there's enough range to find something worth drinking rather than just something to drink. Rotation appears limited — this reads more like a set program than a list that changes with the tides — but quality control is clearly a priority.