single vineyard wines
“My ethos is to let each vineyard’s character show through in the finished wine. I achieve this by using restrained winemaking methods and start with excellent quality fruit, farmed with organic and sustainable farming practices. Whether it’s a fog-drenched vineyard located on a coastal ridge-top; 90+ year old vines or a tiny one-acre monopole, each of our vineyards has it’s own special story and terroir.”
Phillip Baxter, winemaker
Scroll down for a deep-dive into each of our wines, then click through to our Shop to purchase.
Valenti Vineyard Pinot Noir
Winemaker / Owner Phillip T G Baxter at Valenti Vineyard overlooking the Anderson Valley
There will be only 2 barrels made of the upcoming vintage. Club members will be given priority, and mailing list members will be notified when it becomes available. Feel free to add a note expressing your interest or quantity desired when you sign up for our mailing list and we’ll do our best to fulfill your request. Thanks for your understanding regarding our limited batch wines.
A dusty, savory, herbaceous Pinot Noir.
Connoisseur’s notes: A stone’s throw from Baxter Winery, the Valenti Vineyard has stunning views of the Anderson Valley below. It sits high upon a ridge-top in the ‘Mendocino Ridge’ appellation, five miles from the Pacific Ocean. Due to its location above the fog line the appellation has gained the nickname ‘Islands in the Clouds’. The ridge-top vineyards appear like islands peeking out above the maritime fog, which rolls into the valley below at night and lingers there throughout the mornings. Because the elevated vineyard mostly escapes the fog, its vines are bathed in long days of sunshine, providing ample temperatures to ripen the grapes, despite its proximity to the Ocean. Due to the cooler microclimate the fruit benefits from slow, steady ripening developing a multi-faceted and particularly elegant wine. Five different Pinot Noir clones (667, 115, Pommard, 828 and Rochioli) add to the complexity of this wine.
Fermented 30% whole cluster this wine is reminiscent of the old-world in it’s flavor profile as well as it’s production methods. Harvest by hand, then fermented as 30% whole-cluster in small open-top tanks using native yeast. After a period of careful hand punch-downs, the wine is then pressed off using a gentle basket press. The wine is given an extra long aging (22 months) in neutral French oak barrels to allow it to slowly build it’s complex structure.
This texturally complex wine retains an elegance and leanness indicative of it’s unique cool climate appellation. A beautiful, almost heady perfume introduces this savory and herbaceous Pinot Noir. On the palate strawberries and lush summer fruits combine with sanguine notes, as well as delicate over-tones of tea-rose, mushroom and Earl Grey. Bright minerality, dusty tannins, cherry cola and rose petal linger on the palate to provide a fresh yet multi-faceted finish to this partial whole-cluster Pinot.
Run Dog vineyard Pinot Noir
93 Points from from JebDunnuck.com
Just 3 barrels made.
Full Review from Jeb Dunnuck.com: There’s an enduring sense of fresh acidity throughout the length of this crisp vineyard-designate, brimming in currant, cassis, and forest floor. The velvety texture and resolved tannins work seamlessly in this 2022 Pinot Noir Run Dog vineyard, which should age well for the next 10-12 years. Flavors of bramble and forest floor.
Connoisseur’s notes: This one-acre vineyard, is situated northwest of Boonville nestled against the cool western hills of the Anderson Valley, where the vines take advantage of the cool morning sun, whilst avoiding the harsh afternoon heat. This allows the grapes to ripen slowly and avoid the sunburn and rapid ripening common during the late summer heat spikes. The rich alluvial soils and naturally low yields of 1.9 tons per acre produce a focused and intense expression of Pinot Noir.
The Pommard clone performs especially well in cooler appellations, exhibiting a wide range of flavors and aromas - from the everyday to the exotic. Scents of fresh raspberry, caramel and toasted almonds dominate the nose. On the palate, earthy flavors of forest-floor, mushroom, bramble and plum lend complexity and are balanced by elegant tones of tamarind, cola and fresh juicy cherry. Subtle tannins evoke flavors of dusty black tea that combine with bright cherry to provide a lingering finish.
Quote from Vinography.com: 9Points out of 10. “the 2022 Run Dog Vineyard Pinot from Baxter Winery demonstrates why I enjoy Phil Baxter’s wines so much. It’s bursting with flavor and energy and has this quartz-like quality that is very compelling. Baxter trained in Burgundy and brings his experiences there to bear in making wines of great finesse.”
Oppenlander Vineyard Pinot noir
Our most classic Pinot, exhibiting strawberry, black tea and cranberry overtones.
Just 6 barrels made.
Connoisseur’s notes: Located near the town of Comptche, only nine miles from the Pacific Ocean, the Oppenlander Vineyard is rapidly becoming one of the most celebrated vineyards in Mendocino. Planted on its own roots, the vines seamlessly uptake nutrients, ripening beautifully and producing grapes with a unique local identity. The slightly cooler climate helps this vineyard produce a wine with an intense backbone and a vivid color, without overpowering the delicate aromas and smooth mouthfeel desirable in a Pinot Noir.
We use a mix of clones to produce this classic Pinot Noir, focusing on Pommard, 114, and a little 115. The resulting clear garnet wine is full of dark red fruits such as cranberry and black cherry. The nose starts with strawberry, bramble and quickly gives way to black tea and rose petal. Rich in minerals and focused fruit, the wine slowly unfolds to reveal its elegance and complexity displaying a warmth and gentle spice that rounds out the pallet. Expressive upon release, our Oppenlander Pinot is best when enjoyed with food over an evening, and will reward with decanting or cellaring, developing further soft rose petal florals and a dusty strawberry texture as it ages.
Oppenlander Vineyard Chardonnay
A crisp, mineral Chardonnay.
As featured in Press Democrat article 2025 ‘Chardonnay has a big advocate’.
Pending Wine Enthusiast review ( previous vintage gained 94 Points).
Connoisseur’s notes: This is a small block of Chardonnay planted at the Oppenlander Vineyard.
Harvested by hand, the fruit was whole-cluster pressed, then the clear juice was racked into neutral French oak barrels where the long, slow native fermentation was allowed to begin naturally. The wine was aged sur-lees for 12 months before being bottled.
On the nose this Chablis-like Chardonnay expresses sophisticated accents of orange blossom and lime zest with anise and bees’ wax undertones. Once sipped, crisp acid gives way to balanced flavors of starfruit, kumquat and wet riverstone as well as an elegant silky texture. Subtle yeasty flavors of puffed rice round out the mouthfeel as delicate jasmine florals meld with meyer lemon. It’s bright minerality and naturally low alcohol levels offer a wonderful lasting freshness. Aged in neutral French oak this Chardonnay possesses complex structure and elegant poise.
Langley vineyard Pinot noir
In the ‘apple shed’ hang souvenirs from the vineyard’s previous life as an orchard.
95 Points Wine Enthusiast
‘Elegant & refined’ JancisRobinson.com
Focussed fruit, clean lines. Just 5 barrels made.
Connoisseur’s notes: One of the oldest vineyards in the Anderson Valley, the four-acre Langley Vineyard (previously occupied by a tumble-down orchard) is planted to a special champagne clone of Pinot Noir brought from France to the US by Roderer Estate. The clone is extremely local to the Anderson Valley and would normally be used to make sparkling wine.
Located in the heart of the Valley just north of Boonville these vines provide winemaker Phillip Baxter with a unique expression of still Pinot Noir that exhibits a good acid structure, clean lines and lively fruit.
This wine’s clone is easily identifiable thanks to it’s vibrancy, brightness, and structure. The expressive nose is full of cranberry, boysenberry, strawberry and a hint of white pepper. This Pinot displays a complex flavor profile: the mouth is fresh and round, featuring flavors of Bing cherry and raspberry underneath a mineral front palate. Multi-faceted warm-tones, sophisticated tannins and spice add depth to the mid-palate melding into an elegant, velvety finish.
Weir Vineyard
Pending review (our previous vintage gained 96 Points & Cellar Selection from Wine Enthusiast).
Soft strawberry tones, subtle and delicious. Just 3 barrels made.
Connoisseur’s notes: The Weir vineyard produces celebrated fruit with the grapes heading far and wide to serve as a premium Yorkville Highlands designation for several well-healed wine brands. Vineyard owner Bill Weir takes the quality of his grapes seriously, using organic practices and dry-farming methods from the outset.
On the nose we get fresh ripe strawberry and floral alpine herbs. On the palate: cherry pie, plum skin and dusty spice. Full Wine Enthusiast review to come soon.
Ferrington vineyard pinot noir
If you enjoyed the elegant strawberry and expressive florals of the Ferrington Pinot, then try our 94 Point 2022 Mariah Vineyard Pinot Noir.
Fox hill vineyard Nebbiolo
Sold Out. Phillip’s Nebbiolo was likened to Northern Italian style Barrolos on many an occasion, by tasting room customers and Somms alike. The descriptors we used were dried rose petal and graphite.
We no longer have access to this vineyard, as it has changed hands. However, we do have plans to make Nebbiolo in the future….we have commissioned a planting of a block of Nebbiolo so we can bring it back! This will be a while until it comes to fruition of course.
In the meantime: if you enjoy alternative reds to Pinot now and again, why not consider our 98 year old vine Carignan? It’s not akin to a Nebbiolo, but it is something special in itself and pairs with a multitude of dishes.
Keen fans who are in it for the long-haul: please let us know your interest for the future Nebbiolo with email, phone number and quantity desired and we’ll keep you posted.
fox hill vineyard Montepulciano
The deep berry and textured tannins made this a popular wine. The closest profile is our 96 Point Anderson Valley Syrah from Broken Leg vineyard. It won’t disappoint.
Caballo Blanco Vineyard Carignan
Gentle spice and cherry. Just 2 barrels made.
Connoisseur’s notes: One of the first vineyards used by Phillip Baxter in his single vineyard program, Phillip has been making 100% Carignan from the Caballo Blanco vineyard since 2003. One of the best-kept secrets in Mendocino County is the many vineyards of old-vine Carignan. The Caballo Blanco Vineyard is a prime example of the terrific quality found in these unique forgotten vineyards. The owners of this vineyard show their commitment to quality by dry-farming organically to enhance the terroir and intensity of these 90 year old vines. Naturally low yields of 1.5 tons per acre and well drained gravely soil combine to produce a wine of immense depth, balance, and character from this nearly forgotten varietal.
Known for bright red fruit and high acidity, Carignan is typically used in the Southern Rhone to enhance blends. The nose is powerful and intricate with aromas of Maraschino cherries, violets, exotic spice and tobacco leaf. Equally as intense, the mouth is layered with black cherry, boysenberry, plum and graphite. A rich round mouthfeel, balanced with bright acids and a linear fruit focus give this wine the duality of being enjoyable young as well as the ability to age. Intricately layered, Carignan pairs well with almost any meal, especially rich spicy foods.
Anderson valley Pinot Noir
Currently sold out. Our Anderson Valley appellation blend (with the black label) will be back in stock in summer 2025. In the meantime try our 98 year-old vine Carignan which is similarly priced and just as versatile.
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Description of the Black Label Anderson Valley Pinot Noir:
This is our appellation blend of 100% Pinot Noir designed to encompass the best of what Anderson Valley has to offer.
Connoisseur’s notes: For this Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, winemaker Phillip Baxter makes carefully considered barrel selections to craft a wine displaying the amazing diversity of the Anderson Valley micro-appellations. Made using five different clones, our ‘black label’ is a vibrant, spicy and elegant Pinot Noir.
The nose is focused and floral with scents of cranberry, violets and allspice. On the palate flavors of pomegranate, plum, blackberry and raspberry combine with elements of exotic spice resulting in a smooth, rich mouthfeel. The lingering finish is alive with the memory of ripe fruits while the wines’ mineral core leaves the palate fresh and poised for the next sip.