Fawn & Fable
Fairytale Setting, Serious Steakhouse Wine Cred
Farmington · Farmington · American, Steakhouse
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walking into Fawn & Fable at Nemacolin is a lot — think castle vibes meets forest fantasy — but the wine list wastes no time getting serious. A 300-500 bottle program anchored by California, Bordeaux, Rhône, and Italy signals that whoever built this list had their priorities straight. The Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence is earned, not decorative.
Selection Deep Dive
The California section is the heart of this list and it beats loud: Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Chateau Montelena, Far Niente, and Opus One all show up, covering the full spectrum from approachable to occasion-worthy. Bordeaux holds its own with Chateau Lynch-Bages and Chateau Cos d'Estournel anchoring a legitimate Left Bank presence. The Rhône and Italian contingents punch above their weight — E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône keeps things accessible while M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gaja Barbaresco give serious collectors something to reach for. The list skews classic and crowd-forward, but with this depth, that's a feature, not a flaw.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty-five by-the-glass options is genuinely generous for a resort steakhouse, and the $12–$22 price range lands right where it should for a property of this caliber. We'd like to see more rotation and adventurous pours in the glass program — it leans safe — but there's enough here to drink well before the bottle decision gets made.
E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône — $50–$65 (estimated bottle range)
In a list stacked with $150+ heavy hitters, Guigal's Côtes du Rhône is the smart play — legitimate Southern Rhône fruit, serious producer pedigree, and a price point that won't make your eyes water when the ribeye bill lands.
M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Everyone at this table is ordering Cabernet, and that's exactly why you should pivot to Chapoutier's Châteauneuf. It's a bolder, more interesting conversation than Silver Oak and tends to get overlooked when California is doing all the talking.
Opus One
Opus One is always a victim of its own fame — resort wine lists inflate the markup further because they know someone will order it for the name. At a place like Nemacolin, you're paying for the story, not the glass. The Jordan or Silver Oak gets you 80% of the experience at a fraction of the price.
Gaja Barbaresco + Dry-aged ribeye
Gaja's Barbaresco brings enough tannic structure and savory depth to stand up to a dry-aged ribeye without steamrolling it — the acidity cuts the fat, the fruit meets the char, and you're suddenly very glad you didn't default to Caymus.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Fawn & Fable is the rare resort restaurant where the wine list actually deserves the setting — deep enough to reward exploration, classic enough to make everyone at the table happy. The markups sting and there's no dedicated sommelier to guide you through it, but with producers like Gaja and Chapoutier on the shelf, the ceiling here is legitimately high.
Comments
Get the Weekly Wingman
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.