When we made our predictions for what we could expect from the wine world in 2026, here’s one we didn’t see coming: Restaurants in the United States are doing a booming business selling Bordeaux to their clients, especially younger ones. Kevin Flannery, the owner and sommelier at Vinile Chophouse in New York, first tipped us off the phenomenon when he casually mentioned that customers who normally bought bottles of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon in the $600 range were bypassing them in favor of more accessible wines from Bordeaux. Although in the moment it may have seemed strictly anecdotal, we have found it often signals that there is a real movement afoot. Flannery and his wife Sofia, vice president of wine and spirits at Vinile and sister restaurant Vinyl Steakhouse, find the sweet spot for their clientele is in the $125 to $400 range on the wine list. “Right now, this is where Bordeaux offers some..
