French Brasserie Vibes, Serious California Backbone
Scottsdale · French · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Mick Brasserie’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Mick Brasserie lands with a confident thud — this isn't a restaurant that phoned it in. A Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2023 backs up what you see on the page: a focused, well-curated list that leans hard into California and France without going full wine-nerd rabbit hole.
The California side is the real story here — Opus One, Joseph Phelps Insignia, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Caymus, and Far Niente Chardonnay represent the greatest hits of Napa and Sonoma, which will make a certain Scottsdale crowd very happy. France shows up with real credibility too: Chateau Margaux and Louis Jadot Burgundy are name-brand anchors, and the presence of Domaine Drouhin Oregon signals that someone on staff is actually paying attention. At 150–250 bottles, this is a list with genuine range, not just a token wine section bolted onto a food menu. The gap is in depth — if you're hunting for grower Champagne, Loire oddities, or anything below the radar, you'll come up short.
Twenty to thirty-five by-the-glass options is a serious commitment for a brasserie, and the $12–$22 range means there's something for every price point. With five sommeliers on the floor — James Cox, Ricky Reyes, Travis Williford, Stephen Perry, and Bryan Lopez — you're genuinely likely to get useful guidance on what's pouring well right now rather than a shoulder shrug.
Louis Jadot Burgundy — $45–$65
In a list stacked with $100+ California trophies, a well-sourced Jadot Burgundy at entry-level bottle pricing is where the savvy diner parks their money — real Pinot Noir terroir without the Napa markup.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon
Everyone at this table is ordering Caymus. Don't be everyone at this table. Drouhin's Oregon Pinot is one of the most quietly serious bottles on the list — Old World sensibility, New World fruit, and it flies under the radar every time.
Opus One
Look, Opus One is a great wine. It's also one of the most marked-up bottles at any restaurant in America. You're paying for the name here, and at a brasserie in Scottsdale, you can do a lot more with that money elsewhere on this list.
Far Niente Chardonnay + Moules Frites
Far Niente's Chardonnay is rich enough to stand up to briny, butter-forward mussels without steamrolling them — the wine's oak and stone fruit play off the classic French preparation in a way that actually makes sense on a brasserie menu.
The Bottom Line
The Mick Brasserie is a dependable, well-staffed wine destination dressed up as a casual neighborhood spot — a genuinely rare combo in Scottsdale. The markups keep it from being a great deal, but the sommelier team and the quality of the list make it worth showing up for.
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