What Wine to Order at 4 Charles

You finally got a reservation at 4 Charles. Congrats, the hard part’s over. Now you can sit back and enjoy things like wagyu double-cheeseburgers as appetizers, double-cuts of salt-crusted prime rib, and fries dipped in creamed spinach. 4 Charles isn’t a ‘’wine restaurant’’ but there are a few solid buys on their concise list. Our move is to start with some Manhattans, move onto something good but not overly serious, and then order another bottle (or two) of that. After eating all that salty steak, you’re going to feel hungover no matter what. You may as well make it count.

Here are the best buys at 4 Charles according to a totally unbiased but very opinionated group of wine people.

4 Charles Prime Rib Wine List

Champagne to start the meal off

Domaine Tissot, Crémant du Jura Rosé Arbois NV: Tissot is an organic producer in an obscure part of France called the Jura. Their sparkling rosé tastes like strawberry shortcake—but if you left out all the sugar. It's organic, crisp, and refreshing.

Chartogne-Taillet, 'Les Couarres' Extra Brut 2017: This is an insider's Champagne: Chartogne-Taillet single vineyards are the coveted wines the greatest winemakers and sommeliers all adore. This one is 100% pinot noir– the richer, softer, grape of Champagne.

Crisp, salty white wine:

Moreau-Naudet, Pargues, Chablis 1er Cru, Burgundy, France, 2019 Magnum: Chardonnay from Chablis will always be lighter and fresher than chardonnay from California, or even from other parts of France. The town is tucked away in the cool, northern reaches of Burgundy and is famous for its racy take on the familiar grape. This bottle is from one of our favorite producers and tastes like lemon, pears, and sea breeze.

White wine that can stand up to a burger (and the best white wine on the list):

Domaine Leflaive, Les Pucelles, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru, Burgundy, France, 2017: Anne Claude Leflaive is one of the pioneers of biodynamics in Burgundy. Though such vineyard practices bring to mind wild and earthy flavors, Leflaive's wines are entirely pure, and have been considered among Burgundy's very best since the 70's. Puligny-Montrachet is a village famous for producing the crispest and most floral chardonnay in Burgundy, and the wines of Domaine Leflaive are the crispest and most floral of them all. Simply put, Puligny gets no better.

If you can't find Leflaive, try another White Burgundy to stand up to your red meat.

There is no better time to drink Cabernet than with a big steak:

Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, 2008 or Château Grand Puy Lacoste, Pauillac, 2005.

Here are some of our likeminded options.

Beaujolais is also a great burger wine:

Marcel Lapierre, Morgon, Beaujolais, France, 2020: Lapierre is an O.G. of Beaujolais, and is credited for spurring France’s natural wine movement back in the 1980’s. He makes wine in a village called Morgon, which is known for the most serious and Burgundy-like Beaujolais. This wine is powerful but still gulpable, and a perfect transitional wine as we ease into colder weather.

Skip the pinot section.

The overall best value on the wine list:

Domaine Faury, Saint-Joseph 'Vieilles Vignes' 2019: As the appellation of Saint-Joseph's borders have continued to expand away from its original home near Hermitage, its wines have become more and more variable. That’s why it’s important to seek out the region’s premier producers. Producers like Domaine Faury. They use traditional winemaking methods to make classic Saint-Joseph that’s equal parts fruity, peppery, and meaty.

That's all – enjoy!