The Halston
Long Island's Napa-and-Bordeaux Power Move
Melville · Melville · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You open the list at The Halston and the California heavyweights come swinging — Opus One, Insignia, Dominus, Chateau Margaux. This is not a restaurant that's playing around with wine. Sommelier Paul D'Amelio has built something serious for suburban Long Island, and Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence since 2024 is well-earned.
Selection Deep Dive
The 300-500 bottle list leans hard into California Cabernet and French classics, and it delivers on both fronts with real depth. You've got the full Napa hierarchy represented — Jordan for the crowd, Silver Oak and Caymus as reliable workhorses, and Chateau Montelena and Far Niente adding some credibility beyond the cult-cab circuit. France gets respect too, with Chateau Margaux anchoring the Bordeaux section and Louis Jadot holding it down for Burgundy. If you're hunting for natural wine or off-the-beaten-path producers, look elsewhere — this list is unapologetically classic and proud of it.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is an ambitious pour program, with pricing running $12-$25. The range means there's something for the table-splitting crowd and the solo diner who just wants one good glass of Chardonnay without committing to a bottle. We'd love to see more rotation and adventurous pours at the glass level, but the selection covers the bases competently.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $60+
Jordan is the smartest entry point on a list that quickly escalates into triple digits. It's a consistent, food-friendly Alexander Valley Cab that punches well above its price point on a list with this much prestige pressure around it.
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
Everyone's eyes go straight to the Cabs on a list like this, but Montelena's Chardonnay — the wine that won the Judgment of Paris — gets criminally overlooked. It's restrained, structured, and ages well. Order it before someone else at the table talks you into another Cabernet.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, and restaurant markups on this bottle are almost never kind. It's a fine wine, but you're paying a premium for name recognition at the expense of discovery. The list has better Cabs at a similar or lower markup — use them.
Far Niente Chardonnay + Bacon & Burrata
Far Niente's Chardonnay has the richness and oak structure to stand up to burrata's creaminess and the smoky salt hit of bacon without getting swallowed. It's a richer pour that earns its place at the appetizer course.
🔥 The Bottom Line
The Halston is the kind of wine program you don't expect to find anchored in a Melville office park — deep, well-curated, and staffed by someone who actually knows the list. Markups will test your wallet, but if California and France are your compass points, this one's worth the drive.
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