Boca
Old World Heart With A Sommelier On Guard
Downtown · Cincinnati · Contemporary European · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walking into the old Maisonette space, you expect the wine list to have some gravitas — and Boca mostly delivers. The list leans hard into France, with enough Burgundy, Loire, and Champagne to signal that someone actually thought this through. It's not flashy, but it feels considered.
Selection Deep Dive
Burgundy is clearly the anchor here, with producers like Pierre-Vincent Girardin showing up on both the white and red side. The Loire gets a nod via Isabelle et Pierre Clément's Menetou-Salon, and there's a smart Laherte Frères Champagne pick that goes beyond the usual Moët reflex. California makes a respectable cameo with Failla and Presqu'ile — two producers who actually belong on a serious list — and the OTT Grüner Veltliner from Wagram adds a quietly nerdy Austrian touch. The Bordeaux representation is thin and leans toward the more approachable end with the 2018 Haut Médoc, but that's not the worst editorial call.
By the Glass
Eighteen by-the-glass options is genuinely strong for a Cincinnati restaurant of this caliber. The range runs $17–$29, which feels right for the room even if it's not cheap. We'd like to see more rotation signaling — right now the program feels like it was set and left to run — but the options themselves are better than most of what's on offer downtown.
2022 Menetou-Salon, Isabelle et Pierre Clément, Loire Valley — $17
Loire Sauvignon Blanc from a solid appellation at the low end of the by-the-glass range — this is the smart order if you want something fresh and food-friendly without paying Sancerre prices for essentially the same idea.
MV Laherte Frères, Ultradition Extra Brut, Chavot, Champagne
Most people walk past grower Champagne when a restaurant lists it alongside the usual suspects, but Laherte is one of the best small producers in the Marne. This is serious fizz that most tables will overlook entirely.
2018 Haut Médoc, Château Prieuré de Beyzac, Bordeaux
Haut Médoc at this price tier in a restaurant context is a tough sell. You're paying a significant markup for a wine that, at retail, is firmly budget Bordeaux. There are far more interesting bottles on this list for the same money.
2022 Chianti Classico, Tenuta Carleone, Tuscany + Beef Wellington for Two
Sangiovese's natural acidity and earthy backbone cut right through the richness of the pastry and duxelles without bullying the beef. Carleone farms organically and makes a Chianti Classico with real structure — it can handle a show-off dish like Wellington without getting lost.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Boca is the best wine program in downtown Cincinnati that most people aren't fully taking advantage of — a sommelier on staff, grower Champagne, and Failla on the list is not something you stumble into at most restaurants in this city. The markup keeps it from being a true Rager, but if you know what to order, you'll drink well here.
Comments
Get the Weekly Wingman
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.