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
Valenti Vineyard Pinot Noir
95 Points & Cellar Selection from Wine Enthusiast.
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
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.
Oppenlander Vineyard Pinot noir
90 Points from Wine Enthusiast.
Our most classic Pinot, exhibiting strawberry, black tea and cranberry overtones.
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.
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.
Focussed fruit, clean lines
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
96 Points & Cellar Selection designation from Wine Enthusiast.
Soft strawberry tones, subtle and delicious.
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
A strawberry and floral Pinot.
Connoisseur’s notes: One of the most prestigious vineyards in the area, Ferrington sits at the base of the Eastern side of the Anderson Valley. Here at the transition between hill and valley it’s thought that rainwaters over thousands of years have carried minerals down through the hillside soils to collect near the fertile riverbeds. Many of the grand-cru vineyards of Burgundy inhabit a similar position, making them especially prized. The older, deep-rooted vines of the Ferrington vineyard make the most of this beneficial terroir, producing low yields in the sandy yet rocky soils.
Clear blush-pomegranate in color, this wine begins with fresh strawberry and violet florals on the nose. Once sipped, wild plum, earl grey, dusty rose and mushroom are underpinned by a velvety mid-palate of strawberry compote and huckleberry fruit. A hint of baking spices along with fine tannins offer a rich-yet-elegant structure leading into a bright, juicy-cherry finish.
Fox hill vineyard Nebbiolo
Dried rose petal and graphite.
Connoisseur’s notes: One of the best-kept secrets in Mendocino County is the many vineyards of older- vine Italian varieties. The Fox Hill vineyard has been in the same Italian-heritage family for generations, with the 40 year old Nebbiolo vines made up of two stock clones and one suitcase clone brought over to the US by the owner’s grandfather. This inland Mendocino County vineyard benefits from a warm but elongated growing season: the heat is tempered just slightly by the cooling wisps of marine fog that manage to slink into the inland valleys and crevices at night. This special microclimate allows for a slower ripening leading to well-balanced flavors and complexity in the finished wine.
With notes reminiscent of a classic Barbaresco this old-vine Mendocino Nebbiolo is derived of 3 clones resulting in intriguing complexity. Delicate in color, on the nose it displays dusty rose petal scents along with strawberry and undertones of sandalwood. The palate’s fine dry tannins and grippy texture is layered with dried roses, fennel, graphite and subtle sanguine tones. With a linear cherry fruit focus and intricately layered, this wine benefits from decanting and will age ten to fifteen years.
fox hill vineyard Montepulciano
Berry and textured tannins.
Connoisseur’s notes: Hailing from the same vineyard as our Nebbiolo, winemaker Phillip gives the Montepulciano an extra-long barrel aging of no less than three years in 100% neutral French oak barrels before being bottled.
The intense-colored Montepulciano grape from the Abrruzzi region of central / South Italy offers Petite-Sirah-like qualities such as a vibrant berry profile, licorice warmth and textured tannins. We produced just 2 barrels of this wine which enjoyed an extra-long barrel aging (3 yrs) to allow the multi-faceted flavors to develop nice and slowly as well as an extra 6 months in bottle. This mineral wine would pair wonderfully with cured meats, open it to let it breathe and accompany it with a little Coppa.
Caballo Blanco Vineyard Carignan
Gentle spice and cherry.
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
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