801 Chophouse
California Cab Heaven in Cherry Creek
Cherry Creek · Denver · American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The list lands like a confident handshake — 400 to 600 bottles deep, California-forward, and completely unapologetic about it. This is a steakhouse wine list built to move serious Cabernet, and it does that job extremely well. Wine Spectator has handed out Best of Award of Excellence honors here every year since 2017, and one look at the lineup tells you why.
Selection Deep Dive
California dominates and rightfully so — Caymus, Silver Oak, Far Niente, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Dominus, and Opus One are all present, covering the spectrum from crowd-pleasing to genuinely cellar-worthy. France gets its due with Chateau Margaux and Chateau Lynch-Bages anchoring a Bordeaux section that pairs naturally with the aged prime beef program. Italy shows up with Tignanello and Sassicaia, which is exactly the right call — Super Tuscans belong at a steakhouse. The list doesn't venture far off the beaten path, but within its lane it's thorough, well-curated, and clearly maintained by someone who cares.
By the Glass
With 20 to 35 options by the glass, there's enough range that you won't feel cornered into a bottle if you're not ready to commit. Expect the glass program to skew California red — this is not the place to hunt for obscure by-the-glass Burgundy. Nicolas Eymar is the sommelier on staff and his fingerprints show in a glass program that makes sense for the room.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $80–$120
Jordan is the sleeper of the California Cab set — elegant, food-friendly, and priced below the Caymus and Silver Oak crowd at most lists. At a steakhouse where markups run high, this is often your best entry point into a quality bottle without feeling like you got robbed.
Chateau Lynch-Bages
Most tables here are chasing California icons, which means the Bordeaux section gets overlooked. Lynch-Bages is a Pauillac that punches well above its fifth-growth classification and is exactly the kind of structured, dark-fruited wine that holds its own next to a prime ribeye — often sitting in the shadow of flashier names on the list.
Opus One
Opus One is a genuinely great wine, but at a steakhouse with a four-plus times retail markup, you're paying a significant premium for the label recognition. The wine will be fine. The value won't.
Antinori Tignanello + USDA Prime Ribeye
Tignanello's Sangiovese-Cabernet blend brings enough acidity to cut through the fat of a prime ribeye while the structure and dark fruit match the char on the crust. It's a slightly unexpected move in a room full of California Cabs, and it works better than most people expect.
🔥 The Bottom Line
801 Chophouse is exactly what it promises — a serious steakhouse with a serious wine list, a credentialed sommelier, and zero ambiguity about what you're getting. Markups are what they are in this category, but if you're dropping money on a prime steak dinner in Denver, this is the room to do it in.
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