The White Linen

Côtes du Rhône Villages by Famille Perrin — $13 glass (estimated)

Famille Perrin knows the Southern Rhône better than almost anyone, and their Côtes du Rhône Villages reliably punches above its retail price. Order this over the Jadot Beaujolais if you want something with a little more grip and personality without paying for the Cornas.

Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas

Most diners at a place like this will default to the Bordeaux or a Cabernet and never look twice at a Cornas. That's a mistake. Colombo's Cornas is Northern Rhône Syrah with real structure and depth — savory, dark-fruited, and built to go with red meat. It's the most interesting bottle on this list and most tables will walk right past it.

La Vieille Ferme Rosé

At $11 a glass, this is a 300% markup on an $11 retail bottle. We get it — low-end pours anchor every glass program — but an $11 Provence-adjacent rosé with that kind of margin feels like a trap. Order it at your neighborhood wine bar for $9 and spend the difference on a second glass of Cornas.

Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas + Beef filet with red wine reduction

Cornas Syrah has the structure and dark fruit to stand up to a seared filet, and that red wine reduction on the plate is practically calling out for a Northern Rhône to echo back at it. The Colombo has enough tannin to cut through the richness without overpowering the beef. This is the pairing the list was built for.