California Cab Country, Right in Your Backyard
Geneva · American, Steakhouse
Updated October 2026
Reviewed May 6, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The James’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The James lands in charming downtown Geneva with the energy of a place that takes its steaks seriously and wants the wine list to match. Flip open the list and California greets you immediately — and honestly, it never stops. This is a room built for big reds and celebratory pours, and the list knows exactly what it's doing.
With 150-250 bottles, there's real size here, but the depth runs in one direction: California Cabernet Sauvignon. You'll find the reliable all-stars — Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars — lined up like a greatest hits album. Duckhorn Merlot and Rombauer Chardonnay round out the crowd-pleaser brigade. Old World explorers and natural wine fans will feel like they've wandered into the wrong restaurant, but if you came for a serious California Cab with a dry-aged ribeye, the list has you covered.
Twelve to twenty options by the glass is a respectable showing for a steakhouse of this size, and the program leans predictably toward the Chardonnay-and-Cab crowd. Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay appearing by the glass is a genuine highlight — that's a wine that earns its pour. Don't expect adventurous pours or frequent rotation; what's on the list is what you get.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $80
Jordan consistently punches above its price point — structured, food-friendly, and built for exactly the kind of red meat this kitchen specializes in. It's the sweet spot on a list that skews toward bigger markups on bigger names.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay
Most people at a steakhouse skip Chardonnay entirely, which is a mistake when this bottle is on the list. Russian River Ranches is a serious, cool-climate Chard with enough tension and acid to handle the lobster bisque or shrimp cocktail — and it gets overlooked every time someone orders another Cab.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, and restaurants know they can charge a premium because the name moves bottles. The markup here almost certainly doesn't justify what you're getting versus other options on this same list — save the budget for Jordan or Stag's Leap and don't let brand recognition do your ordering for you.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Dry-aged ribeye
Stag's Leap brings elegance and structure without the blunt-force fruit bomb that some California Cabs lean into. That restraint is exactly what you want against the concentrated, savory depth of a dry-aged ribeye — it complements without competing.
The Bottom Line
The James is a dependable California-focused steakhouse list that earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for doing one thing consistently well. If you're there for the beef and the big reds, you'll leave satisfied — just go in with your eyes open on the markups.
Westwood · Los Angeles · American, Steakhouse
A Cabernet-first list with 30 glasses and a long bottle book, but no wine prices posted online. If you want a known price, the $9 happy hour Bonanza Cabernet by Caymus is the one posted figure, and if you want to step away from Cabernet, try the Il Bruciato Super Tuscan by the glass. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · American, Steakhouse
A very large list with a long glass section, from a $14 Muscadet to a $90 pour of Krug. Start with the $14/glass Mélon de Bourgogne, then look at the Arizona Selections page if you want an Arizona bottle, and confirm prices because the PDF says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Van Ness / Polk · San Francisco · American, Steakhouse
A serious steakhouse list with a glass program you can actually use: 32 pours by the stem from 14 to 99 and California Cabernet across eight pages. Start with the Keenan Cabernet at 22 by the stem, or step up to the Jordan Alexander Valley at 129 with the Porterhouse, and ask which vintages are current since the list is subject to vintage change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
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