Solid steakhouse pours, no surprises necessary
Lansdowne / Tates Creek · Lexington · Steakhouse, American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 4, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Malone's Lansdowne reads like a greatest hits album from your local wine shop — the big names are all here, everything is familiar, and nothing is going to shock you. It fits the room: polished, comfortable, and built for people who know what they like and aren't in the mood to experiment. That's not a knock, but it's also not a destination list.
The 100-plus labels lean hard into California, with Napa and Sonoma doing most of the heavy lifting. You've got Caymus, Jordan, Meiomi, Kendall-Jackson — the dependable anchors of every steakhouse list from Lexington to Louisville. Pacific Northwest makes a supporting appearance, but if you're hunting for Burgundy, Barolo, or anything with a little Old World soul, you're going to come up short. The range is $40 to $160 a bottle, which sounds accessible until you realize these are retail-familiar bottles priced at restaurant margins that don't exactly reward loyalty.
Twelve to eighteen pours by the glass is a decent spread for a steakhouse of this size, running $10 to $18. The lineup mirrors the bottle list — California-forward, crowd-friendly, no real curveballs. Don't expect rotation or anything off the beaten path; this program is set and left alone.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley — $60–$80 estimated bottle
Jordan is a genuine quality producer in Alexander Valley and a natural fit for a USDA prime ribeye. Of the Cabernets on this list, it's the one that actually earns its price tag rather than just coasting on name recognition.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Most people write off Santa Margherita as overpriced airport wine, and at retail they're not wrong — but at a steakhouse, it's a smart order for anyone splitting a table where someone wants a light white while others go big red. It holds up against the richer appetizers and doesn't embarrass itself.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Caymus is everywhere, and it's everywhere because it sells — not because it overdelivers. At steakhouse markup, you're paying a premium for a bottle that's been a status shorthand for so long it's forgotten how to be interesting. Jordan is right there on the same list for less ceremony.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley + USDA Prime Steak
Classic for a reason. Jordan's structured tannins and dark fruit cut through the richness of a prime steak without bullying it off the plate — this is the combination Malone's is quietly built around, even if nobody says it out loud.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Malone's Lansdowne is a reliable neighborhood steakhouse with a wine list that does exactly what it needs to do and not much more. Send a friend here for a good steak and a Jordan Cab — just don't send them expecting discovery.
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