BXT Wines 'Therapy' Syrah, Shake Ridge Ranch, Amador Co., California 2024
BXT (Bubbles by Tom) is a micro-production artisan wine project founded in 2019 by Australian native Tom Sherwood, originally from Central Victoria. What began as a passion project alongside Tom's work as head winemaker at Rocca Family Vineyards has evolved into one of California's most exciting boutique ventures, primarily focused on grower-Champagne-inspired sparkling wines made in the traditional method. Tom earned his Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Oenology from the University of Adelaide, honing his skills through multiple harvests in Barossa Valley before meeting his wife Brittany (longtime winemaker at Heitz Cellars) and relocating to Napa. BXT wines are distinguished by their meticulous, hands-on approach—every bottle is hand-riddled, hand-disgorged, and individually numbered, with production rarely exceeding 50 cases per cuvée. The "therapy" Syrah represents a rare still wine departure for BXT, born from Tom's deep connection with Ann Kraemer and the legendary fruit of Shake Ridge Ranch. In Tom's words, working with Ann at Shake Ridge is truly winemaking "therapy," providing motivation and inspiration throughout his winemaking journey. In honor of Ann's generous spirit, 100% of the profits from this wine are donated to Abode Services in Napa to support emergency housing intervention.
- WINEMAKER: Tom Sherwood
- FARMING: Organically farmed (Shake Ridge Ranch)
- VARIETY: Syrah 100%
- TERROIR: Shake Ridge Ranch is one of California's most acclaimed and distinctive vineyard sites, planted starting in 2003 by viticulturist Ann Kraemer and her family in the Sierra Foothills of Amador County, just east of Sutter Creek. The vineyard sits at approximately 1,800 feet elevation on steep, undulating hillsides once rich with gold during California's Mother Lode era. The 46-acre site is divided into nearly 40 separate blocks meticulously positioned like pieces of an intricate jigsaw puzzle, with each block's row orientation determined by compass to optimize sun exposure and air movement. The vineyard is planted in ancient granitic soils with decomposed granite, schist, Mariposa slate, greenstone, and chunks of quartz visible throughout the rows. Ann Kraemer, a fourth-generation farmer who spent 25 years managing vineyards for prestigious estates including Domaine Chandon, Swanson, Cain, Calera, and Shafer, brought her exacting standards to Shake Ridge. The site benefits from daytime breezes uplifting from the distant Sacramento Delta and evening down drafts from the Sierra crest, creating ideal diurnal temperature shifts. The vineyard's fruit is highly sought after by California's top boutique producers.
- VINIFICATION: The Syrah was hand-harvested on September 18th, 2024. 80% of the fruit was destemmed, while 20% was added to the fermentation as whole clusters, providing additional structure and aromatic complexity. Following fermentation, the wine was drained and pressed to a single 80-gallon barrel.
- AGING: The wine aged on heavy lees in a single 80-gallon barrel before being bottled in June 2024 without fining or filtration, with a minimal 20ppm addition of sulfur. This hands-off approach preserves the wine's natural texture and authentic expression of the vineyard.
- TASTING NOTES: Deep and expressive with generous aromatics characteristic of high-elevation Sierra Foothills Syrah. The wine shows exotic perfume with dark fruit concentration, floral notes, and savory complexity. On the palate, it is beautifully structured with firm but fine-grained tannins, light color typical of foothill Syrah, and a long, layered finish. The whole cluster inclusion adds textural complexity and aromatic lift, while the extended lees aging contributes weight and mouth-coating richness. This is a wine that balances the wild power of the site with elegance and finesse, showcasing the unique character of Shake Ridge's granitic soils and Ann Kraemer's meticulous farming.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: The wine's structured elegance and savory complexity pair beautifully with grilled lamb, herb-crusted rack of lamb, duck confit, wild game, braised short ribs, mushroom-based dishes, or aged cheeses. The wine's aromatic complexity and firm tannins can stand up to richly flavored preparations with herbs de Provence, black pepper, or aromatic spices.
- SCORES: JANCIS ROBINSON 2023: 17/20 (90 Points) WINE REVIEW ONLINE 2023: 94 Points
BXT Wines 'Therapy' Syrah, Shake Ridge Ranch, Amador Co., California 2024
BXT (Bubbles by Tom) is a micro-production artisan wine project founded in 2019 by Australian native Tom Sherwood, originally from Central Victoria. What began as a passion project alongside Tom's work as head winemaker at Rocca Family Vineyards has evolved into one of California's most exciting boutique ventures, primarily focused on grower-Champagne-inspired sparkling wines made in the traditional method. Tom earned his Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Oenology from the University of Adelaide, honing his skills through multiple harvests in Barossa Valley before meeting his wife Brittany (longtime winemaker at Heitz Cellars) and relocating to Napa. BXT wines are distinguished by their meticulous, hands-on approach—every bottle is hand-riddled, hand-disgorged, and individually numbered, with production rarely exceeding 50 cases per cuvée. The "therapy" Syrah represents a rare still wine departure for BXT, born from Tom's deep connection with Ann Kraemer and the legendary fruit of Shake Ridge Ranch. In Tom's words, working with Ann at Shake Ridge is truly winemaking "therapy," providing motivation and inspiration throughout his winemaking journey. In honor of Ann's generous spirit, 100% of the profits from this wine are donated to Abode Services in Napa to support emergency housing intervention.
- WINEMAKER: Tom Sherwood
- FARMING: Organically farmed (Shake Ridge Ranch)
- VARIETY: Syrah 100%
- TERROIR: Shake Ridge Ranch is one of California's most acclaimed and distinctive vineyard sites, planted starting in 2003 by viticulturist Ann Kraemer and her family in the Sierra Foothills of Amador County, just east of Sutter Creek. The vineyard sits at approximately 1,800 feet elevation on steep, undulating hillsides once rich with gold during California's Mother Lode era. The 46-acre site is divided into nearly 40 separate blocks meticulously positioned like pieces of an intricate jigsaw puzzle, with each block's row orientation determined by compass to optimize sun exposure and air movement. The vineyard is planted in ancient granitic soils with decomposed granite, schist, Mariposa slate, greenstone, and chunks of quartz visible throughout the rows. Ann Kraemer, a fourth-generation farmer who spent 25 years managing vineyards for prestigious estates including Domaine Chandon, Swanson, Cain, Calera, and Shafer, brought her exacting standards to Shake Ridge. The site benefits from daytime breezes uplifting from the distant Sacramento Delta and evening down drafts from the Sierra crest, creating ideal diurnal temperature shifts. The vineyard's fruit is highly sought after by California's top boutique producers.
- VINIFICATION: The Syrah was hand-harvested on September 18th, 2024. 80% of the fruit was destemmed, while 20% was added to the fermentation as whole clusters, providing additional structure and aromatic complexity. Following fermentation, the wine was drained and pressed to a single 80-gallon barrel.
- AGING: The wine aged on heavy lees in a single 80-gallon barrel before being bottled in June 2024 without fining or filtration, with a minimal 20ppm addition of sulfur. This hands-off approach preserves the wine's natural texture and authentic expression of the vineyard.
- TASTING NOTES: Deep and expressive with generous aromatics characteristic of high-elevation Sierra Foothills Syrah. The wine shows exotic perfume with dark fruit concentration, floral notes, and savory complexity. On the palate, it is beautifully structured with firm but fine-grained tannins, light color typical of foothill Syrah, and a long, layered finish. The whole cluster inclusion adds textural complexity and aromatic lift, while the extended lees aging contributes weight and mouth-coating richness. This is a wine that balances the wild power of the site with elegance and finesse, showcasing the unique character of Shake Ridge's granitic soils and Ann Kraemer's meticulous farming.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: The wine's structured elegance and savory complexity pair beautifully with grilled lamb, herb-crusted rack of lamb, duck confit, wild game, braised short ribs, mushroom-based dishes, or aged cheeses. The wine's aromatic complexity and firm tannins can stand up to richly flavored preparations with herbs de Provence, black pepper, or aromatic spices.
- SCORES: JANCIS ROBINSON 2023: 17/20 (90 Points) WINE REVIEW ONLINE 2023: 94 Points