Members’ Corner

Welcome to the Spring 2021 Wine Club shipment…

Welcome to Members’ Corner. Here you’ll find inspiration to accompany each wine club shipment.

Alternatively, to purchase wines or to update your card details, please visit the Shop and log in.

Message from the winemaker…

Spring is here and bud break is happening at our vineyards. We’re looking forward to the new growth this time signals, and new wines this year will bring.

The feeling we are all sharing right now - as if we’re at the starting line, raring to go after a year of stay at home orders is similar to the feeling of excitement I feel as winemaker every year at bud break. It all starts now…what is 2021 going to be like? What signature flavors will it bring? It’s full of potential, the unknown, it’s out of our hands and every year is different. It’s what makes winemaking such an addictive and fun challenge with each new vintage.

We thank all our members for your support of our business during this unusual year, you’re a special part of the Baxter family. Your support inspires us to move forward with renewed drive.

I hope you enjoy reading below about these special vineyards and get a sense of why they initially commanded our attention to become part of the Baxter range. Savor these wines and Claire’s pairing recipe for Montepulciano that we’ve tried and tested at our own dinner table. I have to admit it’s one of my favorite varieties to pronounce. It lends itself to a wonderfully fake Italian accent complete with hand gestures. “Mon-ta-pull-chi-ahh-no!” Next time you visit the tasting room I’m sure myself or Mark will oblige with a rendition.

I want to remind our members that these days our tasting room is open outside By Appointment 3 days a week. If you plan to taste during pickup, please book an appointment online to ensure Mark is able to host you (as space is limited due to distancing requirements). For simple curbside Pickups without a tasting, there’s no need to book.

Here’s to a good year ahead!

Phillip Baxter, Owner / Winemaker.

spring 2021 Wines:

Club 6 members receive 2 each of the Ferrington and Langley Pinots, 1 bottle of the Carignan and 1 bottle of the Montepulciano. Club 12 members receive double.

2018 Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley

Two barrels produced. 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.

As soon as your nose hits the glass on the 2018 Ferrington Pinot, it’s welcomed with sous bois and a roundness of opulent strawberry teamed with violets and wildflowers. This is a ‘pretty’ wine: intricate layers, floral tones and bright red fruits. On the pallet it displays bing cherry rounded out by subtle undertones of pipe tabacco and vanilla and balanced by huckleberry and red current. Silky tannins bring a cherry and savory finish.

Fun fact: The fuller mouthfeel is from the higher p/H which comes from the stem inclusion during fermentation (Phillip made this wine 30% whole cluster, meaning he kept the stems on 30% of the berries for the two week fermentation at harvest time).

Drink now through 2028.

2017 Langley Vineyard Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley

One of the oldest vineyards in the Anderson Valley, the three-acre Langley Vineyard is planted to a special champagne clone of Pinot Noir. It was brought from France directly to the Anderson Valley, so is a sub-variety very specific to the Anderson Valley. It would normally be used to make sparkling wine. Located 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

Phillip explains:
“This is one of our favorite bottlings ever of the Langley Vineyard Pinot Noir and it has a decidedly summer fruits feel to it.'“

A nose of rose petal and cherry leads into clean lines of bright raspberry, plum and blackberry compote. Pronounced violet florals resound throughout the nose and pallet melding into a soft lingering finish of Celon tea.

As if that’s not a treat in itself, save aside a bottle of this normal version of the 2017 Langley Pinot Noir to compare with our upcoming release of the 2017 100% whole cluster version of this wine. Get in touch to reserve yours (release to wine club members happening in early summer) then do a comparative tasting of the two. Same farming, same pick date, same aging and bottling date. The only difference being the percentage of stem inclusion during fermentation.

Drink now through 2029.

2016 Caballo Blanco Vineyard Carignan, Mendocino

Just 2.5 barrels produced. Our Carignan comes from 90 year old vines , dry farmed and organically farmed giving wonderful intensity and gravity to the resulting fruit flavors.

Caballo Blanco is a secret spot of a vineyard, nestled deep within the high hills between the Anderson Valley and the Ukiah Valley. The area is dotted with towering oak trees that give a splash of green in the golden grasses, this is the kind of area you spot golden eagles, wild boar and mountain lions if you look carefully enough...or maybe they see you first ;)

The photo depicts the head-trained, spur-pruned vines. Each year they are cut back to the first two buds of each 'arm'. Over the years they grow into a very distinct looking style of old-vine Carignan.

Winemaker Phillip Baxter first purchased just one ton of this fruit back in 2003 to add to a Rhone style blend. However, as it aged in barrel it became clear to Phillip that it was much too good to go into a blend - so good in fact that he decided to bottle it as a single vineyard.

Taste-wise, it’s all about the gentle spice and cherry. With it’s structured acid backbone, Carignan is typically used in the Southern Rhone to enhance heavy Syrah-Mourvedre blends, lending a little more lift with a brighter fruit profile.

A clear ruby hue brings you in to a nose that is at once powerful and intricate with aromas of Maraschino cherries, fresh rose and tobacco leaf. On the pallet this wine offers fresh Santa Rosa plum, lush cherry fruit, strawberry jam and exotic spice rounded out by a deep earthy bramble finish. A rich round mouthfeel, balanced with bright acids and a linear fruit focus give Carignan a duality, a wonderful balance that allows it to pair well with almost any meal, especially beef, pork and pastas.

Drink now through 2028.

2016 Fox Hill Vineyard Montepulciano, Mendocino

Just 2.5 barrels produced. One of the best-kept secrets in Mendocino County is the many vineyards of older-vine Italian varieties. Over forty years ago, vineyard owner Lowell married an Italian lady from an agricultural family. The vineyard is planted exclusively to Italian varieties, some of them (like the Montepulciano) are cuttings straight from Italy given to him by his father-in-law. This is what’s meant by the term ‘suitcase clone’.

On a hot and arid summer’s day back in 2013 Phillip and Claire visited the Fox Hill Vineyard on a scouting trip for something a little bit different. As they bumped along the track in the truck, they got out to roam the vines and taste the many different varieties planted. With its intense fruit and pronounced tannins, the Montepulciano stuck out to Phillip as a variety that would, with the right winemaking know-how, result in a nuanced wine.

The Montepulciano grape from the Abruzzi region of central / South Italy offers Petite-Sirah-like qualities. (Not to be confused with the Sangiovese blend of wine from the town of Montepulciano further north). Claire tasted the juice after primary fermentation at harvest time:

“Wow, it was so drying and harsh! I wasn’t familiar with the Montepulciano grape, but I’d seen Phillip’s winemaking enough over the years to trust his vision even if I couldn’t yet taste it in this young wine juice. He asked me to use my imagination: to visualize how a three year barrel aging would allow the tannins to soften and the fruit flavors to meld into a velvety intensity. I was fascinated to watch the wine develop.”

On one of our special 3 year aging regimes, this (along with the Nebbiolo and Carignan) is aged 36 months in neutral barrels before being bottle aged and released. Traditionally a Montepulciano might be aged very little, but Phillip’s decision to soften those angular and drying tannins with a long aging regime was a stylistic choice that results in a well integrated and approachable Montepulciano.

So how does the finished wine taste?
Deep garnet hues in the glass introduce star anise and violets on the nose and a vibrant pallet of black cherry and boysenberry. Herbal bayleaf combines with soft licorice and vanilla undertones. Multi-faceted flavors of cola and blackberry enrich the mid pallet accompanied by textured tannins and a long and juicy finish of dark berry fruits that has you going back for another sip. Open to let breath for at least an hour before enjoying.

With it’s inky intensity Montepulciano is considered great with pizzas, pastas with rich tomato sauces and gamier, smokier meats. Try our pairing recipe below!

Drink now through 2030.

Our spring 2021 recipe…

Phillip likes to relax on the weekend by cooking over an outdoor fire using oak barrel staves, which is where we took our inspiration for the spring pairing recipe. We’ve adapted a beloved lamb meatballs & roasted tomato sauce recipe to the grill for all the cook-outs you’ll be planning this season. The added richness from roasting the tomatoes and the gamy flavors of the lamb pair well with the Montepulciano. The addition of harissa adds an ever-so-subtle depth and warmth. Great on the gas bbq, wood fires work well too for added smokiness.

Once harvest hits we use this recipe with our glut of homegrown tomatoes but store-bought tomatoes work just as well. The sauce is a make-ahead element (either freeze or keep refrigerated for up to 5 days) to be heated thoroughly just prior to serving.

Ingredients (serves 4):

For the meatballs (makes 16 meatballs):
1 lb lean ground lamb
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 or 2 Tbsp mild harissa sauce or paste (harissa paste brands can vary in heat, so use judgement)
1/2 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 egg
salt & pepper


For the roasted tomato sauce:
4 Tbsp olive oil
4 whole garlic cloves, peeled
1 shallot cut into 1/2 inch pieces
3 lb medium or large tomatoes, cored and halved
1 Tbsp fresh oregano
1/4 Tbsp fresh thyme
generous splash of Worcester sauce, adds to depth of flavor (optional)
1/2 tsp sugar
Generous pinch of salt
freshly ground black pepper


Method for the meatballs:
1) With your hands, thoroughly combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
2) Divide into sixteen balls.
3) Heat a bbq grill to medium-high and brush with olive oil. (Or if inside, brush griddle pan or skillet with olive oil). Brush the meatballs with olive oil if barbecuing.
4) Cook, turning regularly for about 5 -7 mins or until cooked through.

Method for the roasted tomato sauce:
1) Preheat oven to 400F.
2) On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the shallot pieces, garlic and herbs in the olive oil.
3) Nestle the tomatoes cut side down amongst the shallot mixture.
4) Sprinkle with the salt, pepper, sugar and Worcester sauce.
5) Roast in the oven for about 30 - 40mins (until skins look as though they’ll pull away easily).
6) Remove skins with tongs. Let cool a little.
7) Put all (including juices) in food processor. Pulse until smooth. Taste once blended, adjust seasoning if desired.

Serving suggestion:
Individual dipping pots make an elegant addition to outdoor dining - top each with a sprig of oregano. Sprinkle the meatballs liberally with finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese before serving.

Enjoying your wines and want to restock?

For members re-ordering any six pack of wines prior to the Fall shipment we will apply complimentary ground shipping. Simply visit the store and note ‘Reorder’ in the customer comments box. Log into your account to view member pricing.

We wish you a happy spring season and hope you ENJOY getting to know this exciting collection of wines,

Phillip & Claire Baxter.

Previous club shipments / recipes:

Fall 2020