Oysters, Ceviche, and Serious French-Italian Bottles
Scott's Addition · Richmond · American, Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed May 19, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You walk into a counter-seat raw bar in Scott's Addition and the wine list hands you Domaine Leflaive and Giacomo Conterno — that's not what you expected, and that's exactly the point. Lillian just picked up a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2025, and you can feel why the moment you start flipping through. This is a focused list that punches well above the restaurant's relaxed, intimate vibe.
At 150-250 bottles, the list isn't sprawling, but it's doing the right things with the space it has. France and Italy are the clear anchors — Burgundy runs deep with names like Domaine Leflaive and Louis Jadot, while the Bordeaux side pulls out Chateau Lynch-Bages and Cos d'Estournel for when someone at the table wants to go big. Italy holds its own with Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosa covering Barolo and Barbaresco, plus Sassicaia and Ornellaia for the Super Tuscan crowd. The Loire gets a proper nod with Domaine Vacheron Sancerre, which is exactly what this menu calls for. The gaps are real — New World coverage is thin, and if you're hunting for something outside the French-Italian corridor you may come up short — but what's here is curated with intention.
Twelve to twenty options by the glass is a solid program for a spot this size, with pours running $12–$18. We don't have the full by-the-glass roster, but the price ceiling suggests they're not just pouring entry-level stuff. PJ Larocco is running the floor and knows the list — ask what's open and take the recommendation.
Domaine Vacheron Sancerre — $12-$18 by the glass
Vacheron is one of the most serious Sancerre producers in the Loire and it's landing at a price point that makes sense alongside a $16 plate of oysters. Crisp, mineral, and built for a raw bar — this is the easy call.
Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco
Most people at a seafood counter are reaching for whites. Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco sitting on this list is a real opportunity for anyone willing to go old-world red with a heartier plate. Giacosa is a legendary name that often flies under the radar outside serious wine circles — order it and let people at the bar wonder what you know.
Sassicaia
Sassicaia is iconic, but it's also one of the most heavily marked-up names on any restaurant list in America. At this level of pricing you're paying for the label as much as the wine, and the bottle needs time and a big meal to show its best. In a relaxed counter-seat oyster hall, it's the wrong fit and rarely the right value.
Domaine Vacheron Sancerre + Oysters on the half shell
Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre and fresh oysters is one of the least controversial pairings in wine. The mineral backbone and citrus edge of Vacheron cut through the brine and clean the palate between every shell. It's not complicated — it's just right.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Lillian is the rare spot where the wine list is more ambitious than the address suggests — a focused, France-and-Italy-forward program with legit producers, a knowledgeable floor lead, and bottle prices that don't feel punitive. Send a friend here, tell them to sit at the counter, order oysters, and ask PJ what's open.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.