Cowboy Star
Napa-Heavy Hits for Serious Steak Nights
Downtown · Colorado Springs · Contemporary American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Cowboy Star signals exactly what this place is: a proper steakhouse that takes its Cabernet seriously. You're not getting any surprises here — this is a well-curated, California-forward list built to move alongside a dry-aged ribeye. It's polished, it's competent, and it knows its audience.
Selection Deep Dive
The list leans hard into Napa and Sonoma, with supporting appearances from Washington State and Burgundy. The California Cab lineup reads like a greatest hits compilation — Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Duckhorn — all reliable names that will make a table of steak-lovers very happy, even if they won't surprise anyone who follows the wine world closely. The Burgundy section adds some old-world credibility and is worth a closer look if you want something that punches a little differently. Washington State is a welcome nod for those who want Pacific Northwest structure without the Napa price tags.
By the Glass
With 12-20 by-the-glass options and a sommelier on staff, the pour program is more thoughtful than your average steakhouse. Expect solid rotation across reds and whites, though don't come in expecting natural wines or anything esoteric — this program is built to please, not to provoke. A sommelier in the room means you can actually ask questions and get a straight answer.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — null
Jordan consistently over-delivers for its price point in a steakhouse context. It's structured enough to stand up to a bone-in ribeye without demanding the same premium as the Napa cult names on this list — and it actually has some restraint, which makes it a smarter order than the more obvious picks.
Duckhorn Merlot
In a room full of Cab drinkers, the Duckhorn Merlot gets overlooked every single time. That's a mistake. Duckhorn basically rescued Merlot's reputation in Napa, and their flagship still holds up — plush, structured, and genuinely food-friendly in a way that some of the bigger Cabs on this list aren't.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine, but it's also the most marked-up, most over-ordered bottle in steakhouses across America. You're paying a significant premium for a name that's been a restaurant workhorse for decades. The juice isn't bad — the value math just doesn't work when better options sit right next to it on the list.
Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon + Cowboy Bone-In Ribeye
Silver Oak's Alexander Valley Cab has the fruit, the structure, and the mid-palate weight to go head-to-head with a bone-in ribeye without either one steamrolling the other. It's a classic match for a reason — the wine's natural richness mirrors the fat in the cut, and the tannins do the work you need them to do.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Cowboy Star is a dependable steakhouse wine list done right — sommelier on staff, proper storage, and enough depth to keep serious wine drinkers busy. Just don't expect to find anything that will make you forget your dinner conversation; this list is here to serve the steak, not steal the show.
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