Notes from the Archivist

"Stone's Throw" — Late Disgorged

Jaws: The Revenge. Highlander 2. 

Some sequels are beyond awful. And some, like Dune 2, extend the legacy to new heights. So when we heard there was more of our first sparkling available we jumped at the opportunity to turn loose a “late disgorgement” release. If you liked the first, this takes things up a notch and brings every one of your taste buds to the edge of their seat. 

“Wine gives one ideas, whereas Champagne gives one strategies” said Roman Payne.

This is definitely one to plan conquests with, whether you’re formulating your next move in Catan or simply looking a bargain WOTN (wine of the night) against some elite grower offerings from the motherland. This is your battle axe, and it cuts through lesser offerings with ease.

By now you probably know 2023 was truly a remarkable vintage.

The “base wine” for this sparkler comes from a single vineyard so special it deserves to remain veiled. Bring a wine consultant who crafted many esteemed cuvées at Schramsberg for 12 years into the picture, and you end up with some bubbles that rival many a Grand Cru from the motherland.

As we tasted various lots, some were mediocre, others worth a raised-eyebrow, and one earned a definitive, eye-popping “YES” – that was with “no dosage” when we tasted it.

Our first release spent 15 months “en tirage”. This one extends that to 24 months, hence the “extended tirage” or “late disgorded” descriptors. This successor to our first Stone’s Throw shows more maturity, sophistication, complexity and straight up glass-guzzling-goodness.

Naturally we locked it down. Then it was time for the dosage trials. This time we added one more gram, bumping it to 4.5g/L and disgorged and bottled it on August 3, 2026.

Next stop – your doorstep. Assuming you move quick enough. With a scant 40 cases remaining from the 44 we made, this will be gone in a flash.

As a still winemaker, the dosage trial process was a revelation. It’s not linear, a touch more or less sugar can completely reshape the wine, accentuating the palate or lifting the aromatics in ways that surprise you.

For me, the soul of a great sparkling wine lies in its aromatics and finish. I admire wines that are razor-sharp and racy, as much as those rich in brioche and nuttiness. But when a Champagne has alluring aromatics and a finish that clings like my 6-year-old son at morning drop off, that’s when I’m hooked.

This shows a very similar style to our previous release, with some added depth, texture, and richness. Aromas of citrus blossom and gently baked apple rise from the glass, with perhaps some jicama or jackfruit mixed in there, accented by wisps of nutmeg spice and river stones. All of which keep your nose lingering too long before remembering to take a sip. If we could bottle this as the next Chanel perfume, we would. For now, I’ll just remain awestruck between sips, and captivated by a finish that goes into double overtime.

For those newer to sparkling wines, a few definitions might be helpful.

First, “Blanc de Blanc” means a white wine made entirely from white grapes, in this case, 100% Chardonnay. The noblest of Champagne varieties. Not to slight Pinot Meunier or Pinot Noir, but I’ve always been captivated by the pure, crystalline expression of Chardonnay in sparkling form.

And of course, there’s “Méthode champenoise” aka the “traditional method”. As it’s done in Champagne. It rests in bottle, on the lees (the yeast) for a period of time, during which the carbonation occurs.

Dosage refers to the amount of sugar added at bottling. While some like a “no dosage” bubbly, we prefer ones that don’t strip the enamel from your teeth.

And finally, “disgorgement” refers to the process of removing that pile of yeast and topping the wine off with the finished dosage to to refill it. 

We didn’t label this wine “Extra Brut,” though it technically sits in that 0–6 g/L range. The nomenclature can be arbitrary — so we chose to let the wine speak for itself. It lands right in the heart of that spectrum: bright, elegant, and endlessly inviting.

This outperforms many Champagne and sparkling 2-3x the price. And one more reminder – being our smallest production to date, it probably won’t last long. Don’t tempt fate! 

Winemaker Addendum

disgorged August 3, 2026