Rare Steakhouse & Tavern
Classic DC beef house with serious California bones
Washington · Washington · Steak House · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 11, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Rare reads exactly like the room looks — classic, confident, and not trying to impress anyone with anything weird. California Cabs anchor everything, with France and Italy playing strong supporting roles. It's a steakhouse list built to sell steakhouse wine, and it does that job well.
Selection Deep Dive
The list runs 150-250 bottles deep, leaning hard into the California dream: Caymus, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Chateau Montelena — the Mount Rushmore of steakhouse pours. France shows up with Chateau Margaux at the top end, while Italy brings Barolo credibility via Gaja and Brunello from Banfi and Altesino. David Alpher's sommelier fingerprints are visible in the Italian depth — those picks don't end up on a list by accident. What's missing is any real adventurousness: no natural wine, no obscure regions, no 'wait, what's that doing here' moments. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2020 is earned, but this is a list built for comfort, not discovery.
By the Glass
Twelve to twenty pours by the glass, running $12–$22, which is reasonable for the neighborhood and the room. The range covers the expected bases — a few reds, a white or two, maybe a sparkling option — but don't expect the glass list to be as interesting as the bottle list. It handles the 'just one glass with dinner' crowd perfectly without showing off.
Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon — $90–$120
Montelena is chronically underpriced relative to its pedigree at steakhouses that don't know what they have. At Rare, it's one of the most honest bottles on the list — Napa Cab at its most structured and age-worthy, without the Caymus markup.
Brunello di Montalcino, Altesino
Altesino doesn't have the name recognition of Banfi stateside, but it's a serious Brunello producer making wines with real grip and cellar depth. Most tables at a place like this are ordering Cabs — walk past them and grab this instead.
Opus One
Opus One is a perfectly fine wine that every steakhouse in America marks up into orbit. You're paying for the label, the story, and the table flex — not for value. Put that money toward Stag's Leap or Gaja and drink better.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + USDA Prime Dry-Aged Steak
Stag's Leap makes Cabs with more elegance and less fruit-bomb than most Napa neighbors — which means it cuts through the fat of a dry-aged prime cut without steamrolling it. The tannin structure here is purpose-built for this exact situation.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Rare is a dependable, well-staffed steakhouse wine list that earns its Wine Spectator nod without breaking any new ground. Send your friends here if they want great Napa Cab with their beef — just steer them away from the trophies.
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