Peabody Elegance Backed By Solid Cellar Depth
Downtown Memphis · Memphis · American, French
Reviewed April 24, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Chez Philippe inside The Peabody Hotel, the wine list arrives looking the part — leather-bound, serious, and about as formal as the dining room itself. The California and French focus is immediately clear, and holding down a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 1995 gives it a credibility that isn't just decorative. This is a list that has been tended to, even if it doesn't surprise you.
The 150-250 bottle range leans hard into the two regions that earn it its stripes: California Cabernet and French classics. You'll find the usual suspects — Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, and Opus One on the California side, with Chateau Margaux and Louis Jadot anchoring the French column. It's a crowd-pleasing lineup done well rather than an adventurous deep-dive, and there's nothing wrong with that in a hotel fine-dining context. Burgundy fans will find Jadot as a reliable entry point, though the list doesn't venture into grower-producer territory or anything that would make a Côte de Nuits obsessive linger.
With 12-20 by-the-glass options, there's enough range to navigate a multi-course French-American dinner without getting stuck. Expect the glass program to mirror the bottle list's California-France axis — solid pours, predictable lineup. Rotation appears limited, so don't expect anything seasonal or spontaneous here.
Louis Jadot Burgundy — $60
In a room full of big California Cabs, the Jadot Burgundy is the smarter play — elegant, food-forward, and genuinely suited to the kitchen's French-leaning dishes. It typically represents fair value against the surrounding markup and holds its own on the table.
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Most eyes at this table will jump straight to Opus One or Chateau Margaux, but the Chateau Ste. Michelle is a sleeper — serious Washington state value that tends to get overlooked when France and Napa are competing for attention. Order it, feel smug.
Opus One
Opus One is a name that carries markup wherever it goes, and in a hotel fine-dining setting it carries even more. You're paying for the prestige as much as the wine, and at these prices there are better buys on the same list.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Filet mignon with fig reduction sauce
Jordan's structured but approachable Cab finds a natural match in the filet — the dark fruit in the wine echoes the fig reduction without fighting it, and the tannins hold up against the beef. It's a classic move that actually works.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Chez Philippe is the wine list of a well-run fine dining institution that has been doing this right for 30 years — not a revelation, but reliably good and properly stored in a room that knows how to use it. Send a friend here if they want California Cab with a French menu inside one of Memphis's great hotels; don't send them if they're looking for anything off the beaten path.
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