The wine list nobody asked for
Brannon Crossing / South Lexington · Lexington · American bar & grill with burgers, sushi, and pub fare · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 4, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You flip open the menu expecting something interesting and instead find the wine section of a gas station with slightly better lighting. This is a list assembled by someone whose main goal was to have a list — mission technically accomplished, nothing more.
We're talking 14 Hands, Cupcake, Kendall-Jackson, Barefoot, and Dark Horse — brands that live on grocery store endcaps and airport kiosks, not curated wine programs. California dominates, with a little Australia lurking somewhere in the background. There's no sense that anyone sat down and thought about what wines would complement the food or excite the customer; this is checkbox wine buying at its most utilitarian. If you're hunting for a grower Champagne or even a decent Rhône, keep hunting.
Eight pours available, which sounds generous until you realize they're all pulling from the same shallow bench of mass-market brands. Prices land between $7 and $11 a glass, which is at least honest given what you're getting — nobody's charging you $18 for a Cupcake Chardonnay, and that restraint is about the nicest thing we can say here.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay — $9
It's the most recognizable name on the list with actual winemaking intent behind it. At mid-single digits per glass, it's drinkable and familiar — damning with faint praise, but that's the ceiling here.
14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon
Nobody comes to Drake's for Cab, but 14 Hands actually overdelivers for its price tier — it's a straightforward, fruit-forward Washington state Cab that holds up better than its grocery-store rep suggests. Order it with a burger and stop overthinking it.
Barefoot Moscato
You are a grown adult at a restaurant. The Barefoot Moscato is sitting at the kids' table and you don't have to join it.
Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon + Big Burger
Dark Horse Cab is ripe, a little jammy, and just structured enough to stand up to a smash burger with all the toppings. It's not a transcendent experience, but it's the most coherent wine-and-food moment the list can offer, and that counts for something.
❌ The Bottom Line
Come to Drake's for the burgers, the craft beer, and the TVs — not the wine list. If you absolutely need wine with dinner, keep it simple and keep it cheap, because the list isn't hiding any secrets worth uncovering.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.