A Thousand Bottles Deep in Boston
Downtown · Boston · Modern French / Contemporary French · Visit Website ↗
Updated July 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Troquet on South’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
The wine list at Troquet on South lands on the table like a small novel — nearly 1,000 labels across decades of producers, with French wine front and center. This is not a restaurant that treats wine as an afterthought; it's the whole point. The room feels like a cozy Parisian bistro with serious cellar ambitions hiding behind white tablecloths.
Bordeaux is the star of this show, and it runs deep — we're talking bottles from the 1960s through modern vintages, which is genuinely rare at a restaurant this size. Beyond Bordeaux, French reds anchor the list, but there are pockets of Germany (Dr. Loosen makes a solid appearance) and New Zealand (Cloudy Bay, Oyster Bay) for those who wander off the Seine. The breadth is impressive, though wine lovers outside the French orbit may find the non-French sections feel like footnotes. That said, 1,000 labels is a serious commitment, and a sommelier on staff keeps it from being just a vanity project.
Forty pours by the glass is an extraordinary program — most restaurants top out at ten or twelve and call it a day. Troquet parcels everything out in 4-oz pours, which is smart: it lets curious drinkers range widely without committing to a full bottle. The range covers Champagne, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and beyond, though the glass program skews upscale and the markups are real.
2002 Dr. Loosen Kabinett — $6.50 (4oz pour)
A mature German Riesling at $6.50 a pour is the rare moment where Troquet's pricing works in your favor. The retail on this bottle runs around $20, and the 4-oz format means you're not overpaying to try something genuinely interesting alongside the duck or roast chicken.
M.V. Paul Bara Grande Rosé
Paul Bara is a grower Champagne house that most people blow right past on a list dominated by Veuve Clicquot. At $14.50 for a 4-oz pour, it's not cheap, but it's a far more interesting glass than the usual suspects — small-production, Bouzy-based, and the kind of thing you'd pay more to discover on your own.
2002 Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir
At $9.50 for a 4-oz pour — against retail of $35 — the markup on this one stings at over 3.5x. Cloudy Bay is a fine wine, but it's widely available and not getting better with age. With 40 pours to choose from, there are better places to spend your money on this list.
2002 Dr. Loosen Spätlese + Duck
A mature Mosel Spätlese brings just enough residual sweetness and acidity to cut through duck's richness without fighting it. The wine has had years to develop petrol and stone fruit complexity, and a classic French duck preparation gives it exactly the savory contrast it needs.
The Bottom Line
Troquet on South is a wine-first restaurant with a genuinely serious cellar, and if Bordeaux is your thing, this is one of the best lists you'll find in Boston. The markups aren't shy, but 40 pours by the glass and a knowledgeable staff mean you can drink well here without committing to a four-figure bottle — as long as you pick carefully.
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Fogo de Chão is here to sell you a meat experience, and the wine list is an afterthought that exists to support that mission — not elevate it. Stick to the Zuccardi Malbec or the Garzón Albariño and spend your energy on the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· 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
Seaport District · Boston · Greek
Trade is doing something genuinely rare in Boston: taking Greek wine seriously and giving diners the tools to explore it without a lecture. If you're eating anywhere near the Seaport and curious about what's actually in your glass, this is the move.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Financial District · Boston · American Steakhouse
The Vermilion Club isn't trying to reinvent the steakhouse wine list, and it doesn't need to — the California depth is real, the execution is consistent, and it delivers exactly what a power-lunch crowd in the Financial District wants. Just know what you're walking into: this is Cab country, the markups are steakhouse-standard steep, and adventurous wine drinkers should calibrate expectations accordingly.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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