Tom told me the same thing two nights ago too. NGL i love myself some quirky bubbles sometimes. If there’s an option to get more than one bottle I’d get two more to follow.
Hi Wine Beserkers,
We really appreciate the support and conversation you have given BXT over the past 12-18 months. Threads like this are invaluable for limited-production producers to gain further recognition and reach in a competitive market. Thank you all for being active in this space! I’ve enjoyed the robust conversation about pricing, style, and quality, and feel like I can give a little broader context at this time.
The 2024 California Immersion is our “entry level” wine, and it’s 100% organically farmed fruit by ourselves or our other wonderful grower partners up and down the state of California. The wine is lightly pressed and fermented in French oak (a small % of new), and within the blend, there is a very small amount of our solera wine (a now 8-year reserve wine). Like all of the wines we make, the CA Immersion is hand-bottled, riddled, and disgorged.
This cuvée was inspired by a visit to Champagne and a tasting with the grower Emmanuel Brochet, who reminded us that wine is about joy and pleasure, and most importantly, that bubbles are for all occasions. We hope this wine creates that feeling at an SRP of $37. We go into detail on Matt Wood’s “Indie Wine” podcast about pricing, and are very aware of some of the great value-brand buys you can find from Champagne. In the podcast, I mention my desire to make this wine less expensive, which relies heavily on scale to be able to do. Despite tariffs, as this cuvée has grown, we’ve been able to reduce the SRP from $39 to $37 in a year. This is labor of love, and if we can save a few dollars, we want to make sure our guests reap the same reward.
Shipping is a necessary evil and is why out-of-state distribution is important. I think it’s important to keep in mind that most wineries, BXT included, do not profit from shipping nor have control over shipping costs, particularly if they are using an integrated third-party shipping POS system. We always provide complimentary shipping on 12-bottle+ purchases, which eats into our margins, but we really love case buyers!
Solera barrel offerings and single-vineyard wines are expensive to make. Higher-quality fruit, extended storage/aging, and quality-based cuts (most of our single-vineyard press cuts yield less than 90 gallons per ton) inform our pricing.
We have made inroads to keep prices as competitive as possible and have invested in our equipment and our own winery to help keep costs consistent.
As a final thought on pricing small producer domestic bubbles compared to value buys from Champagne, we think both are delicious, but should be viewed in separate categories.
BXT was inspired by the grower Champagne movement. Fruit is either farmed by ourselves or other small independent growers, all of whom practice organic farming methods. Wines are typically basket pressed and undergo native primary and malolactic fermentation before being assembled in the spring and hand-bottled.
We play around a lot with pressure, and typically our offerings are less effervescent than those of typical Champagne houses. We like this textural component and integration it lends to the wines. No riddling or fining agents are used, leading to honest and intact wines that require hand-riddling. We value bubble finesse over sterile clarity. There is beauty in the imperfections. We are not dogmatic, but practically all of our bottlings receive zero dosage post disgorgement as we feel the Californian sunshine gives the wines enough breadth and mid-palate weight when we get things right.
Most of the wines see 12-24 months on lees, but as mentioned in this thread, extended aging is increasing on some of our recent vineyard additions. Our goal is to have the fruit and vineyard character shine through as opposed to secondary yeast development (albeit there is space in our program for both). As we continue to learn and evolve, extended tirage aging will be a tool for vineyards that tell us they need more time.
Our 2026 Spring Release will include some new, limited-production wines, but if you are hesitant to try them because of a past offering, please reach out to me directly. I’d love to make that right.
We are an open book, and there is no ego here. Any questions, reach out to tom@bxtwines.com. Better yet, come by for a tour and tasting!
Attached are a few links/reviews where you can learn more about the brand-
2023 BXT Wheeler Vineyard Blanc De Blanc- 93 points
From 100% Chardonnay grapes grown on AXR-1 vines planted to the famed Wente clone, sadly since torn out, the 2023 Blanc De Blanc Wheeler Vineyard has zero dosage, a searing, steely, linear sparkling wine that’s focused in acidity and sharp angles of green apple just beginning to meld onto the lengthy palate. Aged 18 months on the lees, the mousse is lively and still developing, with secondary notes of ginger and pear beginning to show. Disgorged October 2025. Drink best 2028-2030.
Reviewed By Virginie Boon for Jeb Dunnuck
2022 BXT Wheeler Vinyard Blanc de Blanc- 95 points
Made with zero dosage or sulfur, the 2022 Blanc De Blanc Wheeler Vineyard is 100% Chardonnay from old Wente clone vines fermented and aged in neutral French oak left to age another 18 months in bottle. Disgorged October 2025, it shows more developed secondary characteristics than the youthful 2023, sleek in apple, lemon skin, and impressively resolved acidity, coming together into a memorably cohesive whole. Aged 30 months on the lees, it’s a truly impressive sparkler from an unlikely place that’s worth seeking. Drink now through 2040.
Reviewed By Virginie Boon for Jeb Dunnuck
Appreciate you all.
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Decided to open a bottle tonight and found it to be right on my wheelhouse. Citrus, acid, laser focused. Definitely not a wine for those looking for brioche, almonds, or a creamy mouth feel. Had it as an aperitif while cooking. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but it’s mine for sure
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Nice man! Glad you liked it! Your description sounds excellent and right in my wheelhouse…but my bottle literally tasted NOTHING like that.
Again, im happy you and others are digging these wines. No right/wrong answers here for sure Cheers 
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Agree on no right/wrong and didn’t mean to imply otherwise. Wondering now about bottle variation, maybe you caught an off one (or I got one that was ‘on’). This is my first ‘22 Wheeler, hoping they all drink this well.
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