Agni
Columbus Gets Serious About the Bottle
Columbus ยท Columbus ยท American, Asian ยท Visit Website โ
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walking into Agni on South High Street, the wine list hits differently than you'd expect from a Columbus restaurant blending wood-fired American with Asian influence. Three hundred to five hundred selections is a serious number, and the range โ from accessible Rombauer Chardonnay to Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet โ signals that somebody here actually cares. This isn't a menu padded with filler; it has structure and intention behind it.
Selection Deep Dive
The backbone is California and Burgundy, and both columns hold up. You've got Kosta Browne and Domaine Drouhin Oregon representing the Pinot Noir conversation across two coasts, while Caymus and Darioush anchor the Cab side without the list leaning too trophy-hunter. France punches hard โ Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin and Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet are legitimate Burgundy benchmarks, not just name-drops. Italy shows up with Antinori Tignanello, which rounds out the Super Tuscan contingent for anyone wanting something left-field on an otherwise French-Californian-dominant card. The gap we'd note: if you're looking for natural wine or off-the-beaten-path producers, you may need to lean on the floor staff for guidance.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty-five pours by the glass is an ambitious program and one of the stronger reasons to visit even without a full bottle in mind. At $12โ$22 a glass, the ceiling is fair for an upscale room, and the range means you're not stuck choosing between Chardonnay and Cabernet. With sommeliers Matt Borgerding and Kirk Stratton steering the ship, the glass list likely rotates with intention rather than just moving slow-sellers.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir โ $40sโ$60s (bottle range)
Oregon Pinot from Drouhin โ a Burgundy house that translates old-world restraint to the Willamette Valley โ sits in a price tier where it consistently overdelivers. In a list that goes deep on California excess, this is the quiet pick that drinks well above its tag.
Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin
Most tables at a place like this reach for Caymus or Rombauer on autopilot. Gevrey-Chambertin is the move for anyone who wants to see what Pinot Noir actually tastes like with soil behind it โ earthy, structured, built to go with the kitchen's wood-fired proteins.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus has become the airport Chardonnay of Napa Cabs โ safe, familiar, and marked up everywhere. With Darioush on the same list offering more complexity and personality, the Caymus slot is where you let your money walk out the door uninspired.
Antinori Tignanello + Dry-aged steak
Tignanello is a Sangiovese-Cabernet blend built for red meat โ firm tannins, dark fruit, enough acidity to cut through the fat. A dry-aged steak from a wood-fired kitchen is exactly the kind of backdrop that makes this wine make sense. Skip the cocktail and let this do the work.
๐ฅ The Bottom Line
Agni is the best wine list in Columbus most people haven't had a reason to talk about yet โ until now. With two sommeliers, a 300โ500 bottle program, and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence already in its first year, send your friends here and tell them to skip the Caymus.
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