The Bugler
Racetrack Views, Serious Cabernet Energy
Hot Springs · Hot Springs · American, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 10, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Opening the wine list at The Bugler, you get the message fast: this place is here for Cab drinkers with expense accounts and a view of the racetrack. The list is polished, familiar, and built for people who know what they want — which is usually something Californian and red.
Selection Deep Dive
The France and California focus is tight and deliberate, anchored by heavy-hitters like Chateau Margaux, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Stag's Leap, and Jordan — the kind of lineup that plays every Steakhouse Greatest Hits without many surprises. Louis Jadot covers the Burgundy flank on the French side, and Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling does lone duty as the token Pacific Northwest gesture. The list runs 80 to 120 bottles, which is respectable for Hot Springs, but adventurous drinkers looking for Rhône, anything Italian, or a natural wine will hit a wall fast. Wine Spectator handed this place an Award of Excellence in 2025 — and the France and California muscle earns it, even if the range doesn't push many boundaries.
By the Glass
Ten to sixteen pours by the glass gives you enough to work with, and the program seems built around the same California-forward producers that anchor the bottle list. Don't expect rotating selections or anything off the beaten path — this is a set-it-and-forget-it glass program that prioritizes consistency over discovery.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $35
At the bottom of the price range in a room full of big Cabs, this Riesling is the quiet overachiever. It's a well-made, widely respected bottle from one of Washington's best producers, and it's the smartest play if you're ordering the Chilean Sea Bass.
Louis Jadot Burgundy
Everyone at the next table is ordering Caymus, which means the Jadot is sitting there getting overlooked. For a steakhouse crowd conditioned to California fruit bombs, a proper Burgundy from a reliable Beaune négociant is a genuine left-field move — and it almost certainly drinks better with the menu than people expect.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine. It's also the most marked-up bottle on every steakhouse list in America, and The Bugler is no exception. You're paying for the name recognition here, not hidden value — and for the same money or less, the Jordan or Stag's Leap gives you a smarter story.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Steaks
Stag's Leap built its reputation on Napa Cab that's structured but never brutish — exactly what you want next to a properly seared steak. It has the tannin to cut through fat and the fruit to make you feel like the evening is going well.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Bugler is a reliable steakhouse wine list that knows its audience and serves them well — just don't show up expecting to be surprised. If you're in Hot Springs and want a serious bottle of Cab with a racetrack view, this is your spot.
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