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✔️The Reliable

Black & Blue Steak and Crab

Two Hundred Bottles Deep, Zero Surprises

Loudonville · Albany · New American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗

date-nightsplurge-worthyold-world-focusnew-world-explorer

Reviewed April 7, 2026

Wingman Metrics

List VarietyCrowd Pleasers
MarkupSteep
GlasswareBasic Stemmed
StaffWilling but Green
Specials & DealsSet & Forget
Storage & TempAcceptable

First Impression

Two hundred bottles sounds impressive until you scan the list and realize you've seen every single one of these wines at a TGI Fridays with a better lighting budget. The room is genuinely nice — dark wood, proper ambiance, the kind of place that makes you want to order a serious bottle — and the list has the right bones for a steakhouse. It just never swings for anything beyond the obvious.

Selection Deep Dive

Napa and Sonoma carry most of the weight here, with Bordeaux and Burgundy rounding out the prestige tier — a completely sensible setup for a steakhouse, executed with zero curiosity. Jordan Cab, Rombauer Chard, Meiomi Pinot, Whispering Angel: these are the hits on every Greatest Hits album you've already heard. Louis Jadot representing Burgundy is fine but feels like the department store version of the category. If you're hoping for a grower Champagne, an underdog Willamette Pinot, or anything that makes you put down your phone, keep hoping.

By the Glass

Somewhere between 15 and 25 pours by the glass, which is a decent spread for a steakhouse crowd that wants options without committing to a bottle. The selections mirror the broader list — recognizable names, reliable execution, nothing that's going to start a conversation. Rotation appears minimal; this feels like a list that gets set at the start of the season and largely stays there.

💰Best Value

Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — null

Jordan is the steakhouse Cab that actually deserves its reputation — structured, food-friendly, and consistently well-made out of Alexander Valley. In this context, it's the most honest bottle on the list and the one most likely to match what you're eating without a markup that makes you wince. Specific pricing wasn't available in our data, but it's the pick if you're going bottle.

💎Hidden Gem

Louis Jadot Burgundy

Everyone at the table is ordering Napa Cab, so the Jadot Burgundy just sits there getting ignored. At a steakhouse, a village-level Burgundy — especially alongside the dry-aged ribeye — can be a revelation if you're willing to think outside the bold-red playbook. It won't wow you on paper, but it'll outperform its price point against the right cut.

Skip This

Whispering Angel Rosé

Whispering Angel has become the most marked-up wine in the country relative to what's actually in the bottle. You're paying for the Instagram label at a price that buys genuinely interesting wine elsewhere on this list. In a steakhouse, it's also just a strange call — order it at brunch, not alongside a $60 ribeye.

🍽️Perfect Pairing

Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Dry-Aged Ribeye

This is the pairing the list was built around, and it works exactly as advertised. Jordan's firm tannins and dark fruit cut through the fat cap on a dry-aged ribeye without overwhelming the beef's natural funk. Sometimes the obvious call is obvious for a reason.

✔️ The Bottom Line

Black & Blue is a dependable steakhouse wine list — well-stocked, zero risk, and priced for people who aren't flinching at the check. If you came for the ribeye and want a bottle that won't let you down, you'll find one. Just don't come expecting discovery.

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