Napa royalty, steakhouse prices, zero surprises
West Des Moines · Des Moines · Upscale Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 20, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Fleming's hands you a wine list that reads like a greatest hits album of American wine — Caymus, Opus One, Silver Oak, Rombauer. It's polished, well-organized, and immediately tells you exactly what kind of place this is. If you came here hoping for a funky Jura Poulsard, turn around.
The 100-plus bottle list leans hard into Napa and Sonoma Cabernet, which makes perfect sense for a steakhouse but leaves little room for adventure. Washington State gets a nod, and Paso Robles shows up on the edges, but the through-line is big, bold, oak-forward American reds. There's no real old-world presence to speak of, and if you want Burgundy or Barolo with your filet, you're largely out of luck. That said, the producers they've chosen are legitimate — Stag's Leap Artemis, Duckhorn, Jordan — these aren't filler bottles.
Thirty to forty by-the-glass options is genuinely impressive for Des Moines, and the range covers enough ground to keep a table with mixed preferences happy. The prices run $15–$30 a glass, which stings a little, but at least you're pouring real wine rather than anonymous house stuff. Don't expect the list to rotate much — this is a corporate program, and consistency is the priority over discovery.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $90
Jordan Alexander Valley Cab is one of the most reliably food-friendly Cabernets made in California — structured, not overblown, and made for red meat. At a steakhouse with $60 entrees, landing a bottle in the $90 range that actually drinks like a wine and not a fruit bomb is the move.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon
Everyone's reaching past this bottle for Caymus or Opus One, and that's a mistake. Artemis is serious Napa Cab from one of the valley's iconic houses — more restrained and food-friendly than the big cult names, and typically better priced per glass than its reputation deserves.
Opus One
Opus One is a trophy bottle, and Fleming's knows it — the markup reflects that. You're paying for the label as much as the wine, and at a corporate steakhouse the bottle isn't going to be better stored or served than it would be anywhere else. Save this one for a dedicated wine occasion, not a Tuesday business dinner.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime Tomahawk Steak
Caymus is rich, ripe, and built for exactly this moment — a 36-ounce bone-in behemoth of beef fat and char. It's not a subtle pairing, but subtlety isn't the point when you're splitting a tomahawk.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Fleming's West Des Moines does what it's designed to do — deliver a confident, California-heavy wine program in a well-run steakhouse setting. We'd send a friend here for a special occasion; we just wouldn't tell them to expect anything they haven't already seen before.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.