The Butcher and Barrel
Buenos Aires meets Cincinnati, wine markup edition
Downtown · Cincinnati · Steakhouse, Argentinean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
A rooftop Argentinean steakhouse in downtown Cincinnati with a wine list that actually takes the concept seriously — Mendoza Malbec and Cab Franc anchor the list right where they should be, and the Italian picks (Barolo, Amarone) show someone put real thought into this. What catches us off guard is the pricing: some of these bottles are at or near retail, which in a restaurant context is basically a gift.
Selection Deep Dive
The 40-60 bottle list leans into its Argentine identity with Mendoza front and center — the Susana Balbo Signature Malbec and La Madrid Cab Franc from 2016 are smart, food-forward picks that belong on a list twice this size. Italy rounds things out with genuine ambition: the Damilano Lecinquevigne Barolo 2015 and Tedeschi Amarone 2017 are serious bottles that justify the higher price tags. Oregon gets a nod with both Adelsheim and the Six Stones Pinot from Rogue Valley, which is a slightly off-the-beaten-path appellation you don't see often. The California and New Zealand bottles fill out the list but feel more like crowd-pleasers tacked on than deliberate choices.
By the Glass
Eight to twelve pours by the glass with solid entry points — the Six Stones Pinot Noir at $11 a glass is the obvious headline, and the La Madrid Cab Franc at $14 is a legitimate steal for the quality. The Risata Moscato d'Asti feels out of place next to a Barolo program, but it's there for the dessert crowd and we're not mad about it.
Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Marlborough NZ — $9
This one retails for more than what they're charging per glass. At $9 a pour in a restaurant setting, you're essentially drinking below cost — order a second one and don't ask questions.
Cabernet Franc, La Madrid 2016, Mendoza, Argentina
Cab Franc from Mendoza doesn't have the name recognition of Malbec, which means most tables walk right past it. That's a mistake. The 2016 vintage has had time to settle into something genuinely interesting, and at $14 a glass or $52 a bottle it's one of the more exciting pours on the list.
Moscato d'Asti, Risata, Piedmont, Italy
Fifty-two dollars for Risata Moscato at a steakhouse is a hard sell. It's a perfectly fine supermarket wine that retails for well under $15. The rest of the list earns its prices — this one doesn't.
Barolo, Damilano Lecinquevigne 2015 + Chorizo Meatballs
The Damilano Barolo's high acid and grippy tannins were basically engineered to cut through rich, fatty meat. The chorizo spice and the wine's dried cherry and tar notes find each other in a way that makes both better. At $98 it's a commitment, but this is the pairing that makes the whole evening make sense.
Thursday — Select bottles are half price every Thursday.
🎲 The Bottom Line
The Butcher and Barrel is punching well above its weight class for a Cincinnati rooftop spot — near-retail markups, a Thursday half-price bottle program, and genuine Argentine and Italian depth make this a Wild Card worth taking seriously. Come for the Malbec, stay for the La Madrid Cab Franc, and for the love of all that is holy book Thursday.
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