Big Texas Steakhouse, Serious California Cabernet
Houston · Houston · Steak house · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Taste of Texas Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You walk past a full-size Alamo replica and into one of Houston's most beloved steakhouse institutions — the wine list matches the room's confidence. Three hundred-plus bottles, California through and through, with all the usual suspects lined up like an honor guard. It's not trying to surprise you, and it doesn't need to.
The list is essentially a California Cabernet greatest hits album: Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Far Niente, and Opus One all make appearances, which tells you exactly who this list is built for. There's real depth in the Napa Cab category — if you want to drink well in that lane, you'll find plenty of runway. What's missing is any meaningful detour into Burgundy, Rhône, or domestic outliers that might give the list some texture. At 300-400 selections, it's a sizable list, but it feels narrower than the numbers suggest because so much of it rhymes.
Twenty to thirty pours by the glass is a strong showing for a steakhouse, and the $10-$20 range is respectable for the format. Whether the BTG list rotates with intention or just refills the usual suspects is unclear, but having this many options means you can scout the list without committing to a bottle. We'd push staff for their current pours before defaulting to the printed page.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $40s-$50s (bottle)
Jordan consistently punches above its retail price in restaurant settings, and at a steakhouse markup it's often the sanest Napa Cab on the menu — structured, food-friendly, and not screaming for attention the way Caymus does.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Everyone at the table is ordering Cab, which means the Duckhorn Merlot gets ignored. That's a mistake — it's plush, well-built, and tends to carry a slightly softer markup than the flagship Cabs. Order it before someone else at the table calls it out.
Opus One
Opus One is a genuinely great wine, but at a steakhouse it's almost always marked up to the point where you're paying a serious premium for the label. The same money drinks better elsewhere on this list, and you're not in a room built to maximize what Opus One is doing.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime Rib
Stag's Leap has always been about elegance over power — that restraint plays beautifully against the richness of a prime rib, cutting through the fat without bludgeoning the meat the way a bigger Napa Cab might.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Taste of Texas is a Houston institution that takes its California Cabernet seriously — 30 years of Wine Spectator recognition backs that up. It's not a destination wine list, but if you're here for a steak and want a proper bottle to go with it, you won't leave disappointed.
Montrose · Houston · French
The Marigold Club is Houston's most interesting new wine room for anyone who thinks Champagne is a food group and France is the only country that matters — in the best possible way. Go on a Sunday, order the Delamotte, eat the Duck Wellington, and tip generously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Houston · Houston · American, Italian
Milton's is the kind of neighborhood trattoria that surprises you — the room says casual pasta night, the wine list quietly whispers Biondi-Santi. If you care about Italian wine and you're in Houston, it's worth a reservation just to explore the bottle list.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montrose · Houston · Italian
Marmo is hiding a legitimately serious Italian wine program behind a piano bar and a plate of hand-rolled pasta — and that's exactly what makes it worth seeking out. Send a friend here if they think Houston Italian restaurants don't take wine seriously; this list will change their mind.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Houston · Houston · Mexican (Oaxacan)
Xochi is doing something genuinely rare: running a serious Mexican wine program inside a serious restaurant, with a sommelier who knows the material and a list that earns its Wine Spectator credential. Send your adventurous friends here and tell them to skip the Cab.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Houston · Houston · American
State of Grace is a reliable, well-run wine program anchored by a knowledgeable sommelier and a list that respects both the food and the guest's wallet. If you want a neighborhood spot in Houston where the wine won't let you down, this is a safe and satisfying call.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Montrose · Houston · European
Rosie Cannonball is punching well above its bistro weight class — the Wine Spectator nod since 2020 is deserved, and the Beaujolais and natural Italian depth make it the kind of list that rewards the curious. Send your friends here and tell them to skip the Cab.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Capitol Square · Madison · Steak house
Rare is a reliable wine destination for Napa devotees visiting Madison — the list is familiar by design, the WS Award of Excellence is well-earned, and the setting delivers. Just don't come here looking for natural wine or anything that strays from the California playbook.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Brookfield · Brookfield · Steak house
Mr. B's is a reliable, well-kept steakhouse wine list that knows its audience and serves them well — just don't expect any surprises. If you're a California Cab loyalist heading out for a serious steak dinner in the Milwaukee suburbs, this is your spot.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Loop · Chicago · Steak house
BLVD Steakhouse doesn't reinvent the steakhouse wine list, but it executes the formula competently — solid producers, proper storage, and enough range to keep a table of Cab loyalists happy all night. Just go in with your eyes open on the markups and skip the trophy-bottle trap.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.