Baxter Winery

Owner(s)	Phil Baxter, Phil Baxter, Jr.
Web site	www.baxterwinery.com

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Phil Baxter is native to California, growing up in the central valley where he studied winemaking at Fresno State. He moved to the Napa Valley just before 1969 when he started his career under the tutelage of Bill Bonetti at the Charles Krug Winery. Phil oversaw the development of the Souverain Napa operation and was the head winemaker at Rutherford Hill Winery for the first ten years. He then moved to the Dry Creek Valley as the winemaker at Domaine-Michel. In 1989 Phil started his own business with the Philippe-Lorraine label in honor of his maternal grandparents, Philippe and Lorraine Segrais. Direct descendants of France, but more recently from the isle of Mauritius, they were the source of much of his love of wine and the old world. Now, together with his youngest son, he focuses most of his energy on Philippe-Lorraine and Baxter their new single vineyard label.

Phil Jr. grew up in St. Helena running around the vineyards of Rutherford Hill and Domaine Michel. After high school he enrolled at UCDavis where he spent five years studying viticulture and enology, one of which was in France. After finishing school in 2002, Phil once again ventured to France, this time to work the harvest. He worked at two domains owned by Boisset. Domaine de la Vougeraie in Premeaux, produces wine from 33 different vineyards from Musigny and Bonne Mares to premier cru and village wines. During the thick of harvest Phil also helped the crew at Domaine Raymond Launay in Pommard. They made many Pommard wines as well as several grand crus from elsewhere on the Cote. Upon his return Phil decided to work for his father and the family business. Perhaps due to Phil Jr's Burgundian influence, in 2003 father and son started the Baxter label focusing on premium vineyards and old world techniques, including little or no new oak elevage for Pinot Noir. The Baxters have now consolidated all winemaking at their family farm in Elk, CA. The estate lies in the Mendocino Ridge appellation on top of Greenwood Ridge between Philo and Elk. This father and son team work together as the only employees to create both Philippe-Lorraine as well as the smaller lots of Baxter wines and now Pipo.

Pinot Noir has been sourced from Toulouse Vineyard in the Anderson Valley and Oppenlander Vineyard in Comptche, just north of the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, but vineyard sources have varied over the years. The wines are sold online through the winery's website.

Articles About Baxter Winery

Along the Pinot Trail: Pinot Days Southern California 2010 (8.9 1/22/2010)
Anderson Noir Valley Pinot (Pt I) (7.18 5/26/2009)
Anderson Noir Valley Pinot Festival: After the Smoke Clears (8.16 6/8/2010)
Andersonoir Valley Pinot Noir Festival (8.40 6/30/2011)
Pinot Noir Newcomers Focus Tasting (7.24 8/28/2009)
Tasting of Anderson Valley Pinot Noirs (6.28 6/3/2007)

Reviewed Wines

2009 Baxter Run Dog Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., pH 3.53, 110 cases, $45. Available for futures purchase now, formal release November 2011. A 1-acre vineyard in Boonville planted in 1999 and managed by the Baxters. Nestled against the cool western hills allowing the vineyard to receive the morning sun, but avoid the harsh afternoon heat. Yields 1.9 tons per acre. Pommard 5 clone. Native fermentation, elevage in neutral French oak barrels, unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately light reddish-purple hue in the glass. Red fruits are featured on the nose and palate. Lovely soft texture and bright acidity on the finish. Plenty of charm now, but will benefit from another year or two in bottle. Very good. Reviewed July 1, 2011 ARTICLE »

2007 Baxter Winery River Run Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 75 cases, $45. This vineyard is just under one acre and sits on the northwestern edge of Boonville. Pommard 5 clone. Yield 1.5 tons per acre. 5 day cold soak, whole berry fermentation, native yeast, 18 days on the skins, unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately deep reddish-violet color. A woodsy and nutty nose featuring cherry fruit. An earthy wine with some notable minerality enhancing the raspberry and cherry fruit flavors augmented by a subtle note of citrus with a little heat on the finish. Generous acidity, mild tannins and admirable finesse. Reviewed May 26, 2009 ARTICLE »

2007 Baxter Winery Toulouse Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., pH 3.67, 250 cases, $45. Released in the fall of 2009. This vineyard is located near Philo and was planted in 1998. Clones 115, 667 and 2A. Aged in neutral oak. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Nicely outfitted nose featuring scents or red fruits including strawberries and cherries, rose petals and a hint of spice. Tasty core of delicately spiced redder fruits with a touch of underlying wet leaves and underbrush. Light in weight with bright acidity that lifts the vibrancy of the fruit. Very good. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »

2005 Baxter Winery Toulouse Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., 150 cases, $45. This vineyard has a southwestern exposure on slopes near Philo. Below the coastal fog in the morning, the vineyard has plenty of warmth midday. Whole berry fermentation, small open top tanks, hand punch downs. · Pleasing aromas of black cherries, raspberries, marzipan and oak smoke with a hint of alcohol peaking out as the wine warms in the glass. A mid-weight wine with a soft and tasty core of dark cherries and raspberries that are nicely spiced with a hint of citrus in the background. Very smoothly textured with soft and supple tannins. Reviewed May 26, 2009 ARTICLE »

2004 Baxter Oppenlander Vineyard Mendocino Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., $40. · The nose features super ripe dark cherries and herbs. The straight-forward dark cherry flavors are kissed by citrus. The finish sports fine tannins, lively acidity, a touch of astringency, and a little warmth. Reviewed June 3, 2007 ARTICLE »