Montana's French-leaning wine surprise worth finding
Missoula · Missoula · American, French · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You're in Missoula, Montana — and the wine list leans Loire Valley and California with enough seriousness to earn a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. That's not something you expect when you pull up to 875 Wyoming Street, and the surprise is a good one. This is a list that someone clearly put thought into, even if the data doesn't fully reveal its depth.
The regional focus is France and California, which tracks perfectly with the bistro-style American-French menu. A Loire Valley Anjou Blanc anchors the French side — not a crowd-pleaser pick, not a safe Sancerre — someone here is paying attention. The Wine Spectator credential since 2023 confirms this isn't accidental curation. We'd love more visibility into the full list, but what surfaces points to a program punching above its zip code.
By-the-glass specifics are limited from where we're standing, but a $17 pour of the Château Souchere Anjou Blanc signals the program isn't defaulting to grocery-store staples for its glass pours. If the rest of the BTG lineup holds to that standard, this is worth exploring before you commit to a bottle.
2021 Château Souchere 'Les Rangs de Long' Anjou Blanc — $17
Chenin Blanc from Anjou doesn't get enough love in the States, and at $17 a glass it's an honest, food-friendly pour that most people at this table have never tried. That's exactly what you want from a best value.
2021 Château Souchere 'Les Rangs de Long' Anjou Blanc
Most diners will scan past a Loire Blanc and reach for something they recognize. Don't. Anjou Blanc from a quality producer is textured, mineral, and endlessly versatile with food — and it's genuinely rare to find it on a Montana wine list at all.
Unknown — insufficient pricing data to call out a specific bottle
We don't have enough list data to pinpoint a bottle to avoid. When in doubt, anchor to the Loire Blanc and ask your server what else is interesting — a staff that stocks Anjou Blanc probably knows more than they're letting on.
2021 Château Souchere 'Les Rangs de Long' Anjou Blanc + Prises Fraîches en Papillote
A delicate papillote preparation needs a wine with brightness and restraint — not a butter bomb Chardonnay. Chenin Blanc from the Loire brings just enough acidity and stone fruit to lift the dish without competing with it.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Boxcar Bistro is the kind of place Missoula residents should be quietly proud of — a legit wine program in a town where the bar is easy to clear and they've chosen to go higher. We'd send a friend here, especially one who thinks they already know what they like.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.