Larkin's on the River

The list reads exactly like you'd expect from a white-tablecloth steakhouse sitting on a postcard-worthy stretch of the Reedy River — Napa heavyweights, a few Bordeaux, and not much else. It's a wine list that matches the room: polished, predictable, and built to make the check feel justified. No surprises, but nothing embarrassing either.

The 150-250 bottle range sounds impressive until you realize a significant chunk of that real estate is occupied by familiar California faces — Caymus, Jordan, Rombauer, Duckhorn — the kind of producers that sell themselves and require zero explanation from floor staff. Bordeaux gets a nod, likely the usual suspects from Saint-Émilion and Pauillac, but don't come expecting Burgundy depth, Rhône exploration, or anything from the Southern Hemisphere. This is a Napa and Sonoma show with a French supporting act, and it plays to its upscale steakhouse crowd without much ambition beyond that. If you're a red Bordeaux grape drinker, you'll be fine; if you're hunting anything remotely adventurous, you'll leave wanting.

With 15-25 pours available, the by-the-glass program is one of the stronger aspects here — enough range to navigate the menu without committing to a bottle. Expect the usuals to anchor the list: Rombauer Chardonnay almost certainly holds down the white side, and a Duckhorn or Caymus pour probably tops the reds. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority, so what you see is likely what's been there a while.