Steakhouse Hides a Natural Wine Secret
· Chicago · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Palm Chicago’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You walk into a classic steakhouse expecting a wall of Napa Cabs and overpriced Bordeaux, and instead you find six bottles that read like a natural wine bar's tasting menu. It's jarring in the best possible way. Someone in this kitchen actually cares.
Six bottles is a short list by any measure, but the curation here is genuinely surprising. We've got Lucien Crochet's single-vineyard Sancerre, a Puzelat-Bonhomme Loire that leans funky and low-intervention, Ferrando's Canavese Rosso built on Nebbiolo and Barbera from Piedmont, and Ruth Lewandowski's 'Feints' — a California bottle with serious cult credibility. The Clos du Gravillas Minervois and Bois de Boursan Châteauneuf-du-Pape round out the reds with Old World gravitas. There are no filler bottles here — no obvious crowd-pleasers, no Kendall-Jackson in sight.
By-the-glass options aren't detailed in available data, so we can't speak to the pour program. Given the tight six-bottle list, it's possible the whole thing functions as a bottle-only selection — but we'd ask your server to confirm. If they're pouring the Sancerre by the glass at that price point, grab it immediately.
Lucien Crochet 'Le Chêne' Sancerre 2013 — $23
A single-vineyard Sancerre from one of the Loire's most respected names at $23 a bottle is not a typo. This is the kind of wine that retails for $35–$45 without blinking. Order it before they fix the menu.
Ferrando 'Canavese Rosso' 2013
Ferrando is a legendary Carema producer working with Nebbiolo in the Alpine foothills of Piedmont — a region most people couldn't find on a map. The Canavese Rosso is their entry point and it's deceptively serious: lean, aromatic, built for food. At a steakhouse, it's going to cut through fat in a way that a big Cab won't, and most tables will walk right past it.
Domaine Bois de Boursan Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011
Ninety dollars is a lot to ask for a Châteauneuf that's had a decade to either shine or fade — and without knowing how it's been stored here, that's a gamble. The rest of the list offers much better value per dollar. Save the $90 for a second bottle of the Sancerre.
Ferrando 'Canavese Rosso' 2013 + Ribeye
Nebbiolo's natural acidity and savory tannins are built to go with red meat. The Canavese Rosso is lighter on its feet than a full Barolo, which means it won't club the beef — it'll actually let the char and fat do their job while keeping the palate fresh.
The Bottom Line
This is not the wine list you expect to find at The Palm, and that's exactly why it earns attention. Six bottles, zero filler, genuinely fair pricing — if someone's tending this list, they deserve a raise.
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
West Loop · Chicago · Californian
The Oakville Grill earns its Wine Spectator credential and the sommelier duo makes this list accessible, not intimidating. Wednesday half-price wine night alone is reason enough to get a reservation — just let go of the idea that anything other than California is on the agenda.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American
John's is a neighborhood spot that punches well above its casual format — two sommeliers, a thoughtful France-and-California list, fair prices, and half-price bottles every Monday. Send your friends here, especially on a Monday.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
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Terrace 16 earns its Wine Spectator badge and delivers a respectable, California-and-France-focused list in one of Chicago's most dramatic dining rooms. Just don't expect to be surprised — the wine is as reliable as the skyline view, and nearly as expensive.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
River North · Chicago · French, Indian
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Loop · Chicago · Steak house
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Boston · Steakhouse
STK Boston has the square footage, the lighting, and the noise level of a place that should have a serious wine program — instead it has 142 labels of stuff you've already tried. Order a cocktail, or pick the most interesting bottle you can find and move on.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlantic City · Steakhouse
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Las Vegas · Steakhouse
The Palm Las Vegas is an unlikely wine discovery — a six-bottle natural and old-world-leaning list tucked inside a steakhouse institution, priced like someone forgot they're on the Strip. Don't sleep on it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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