Each week, I love spotlighting a wine that truly stands out—whether for its unique personality, compelling backstory, or the sheer joy it brings in the glass. This week’s pick is all three: the 2020 Baxter Pinot Noir Run Dog Vineyard, is a pure, vibrant expression of an Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. It’s a bottle that transports you to a place as much as it pleases your palate.

Anderson Valley: Remote, Rugged, and Rewarding

Tucked into the cool, coastal hills of Mendocino County, Anderson Valley remains one of California’s most quietly profound wine regions. It’s a narrow, fog-kissed valley shaped by the Pacific, where morning mists yield to golden afternoons and nights fall quickly, cool and crisp. The diurnal shift is dramatic—and Pinot Noir thrives in that tension. Wines from this region speak with a clear voice: vibrant acidity, savory nuance, and a soulful restraint that’s hard to replicate.

We’ve made an annual pilgrimage to Anderson Valley for over a decade, drawn first by the Pinot Noir, and then, slowly, by everything else. There are the cool-climate Syrahs—wildly underrated and deeply expressive. The sparkling wines—precise and full of character. And always, the people. There’s a laid-back, low-key spirit here that invites you to slow down, wander off the beaten path, and connect with passionate growers and winemakers who are truly rooted in the land.

Baxter Winery

Founded in 2002, Baxter Winery has long championed single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Anderson Valley. Owned and operated by Phillip and Claire Baxter—who make their home in the rugged hills of the valley—the winery reflects the deeply personal nature of the region’s best producers.

Phillip, inspired by his winemaker father, studied at UC Davis and honed his craft during internships in Burgundy. That dual influence—technical precision and old-world sensibility—shows in the wines. Native yeast fermentations, minimal intervention, and extended aging in neutral oak are all part of the house style. The goal isn’t to polish the wines into perfection, but to let the vineyard speak clearly, honestly, and without artifice.

2020 Baxter Pinot Noir Run Dog Vineyard

Run Dog Vineyard is just one acre in size, nestled on a gentle slope above Boonville at the southern end of the valley. Planted to the Pommard clone on alluvial soils, the site brings out Pinot Noir’s more refined, red-fruited side. Farmed organically and positioned just west of Anderson Valley Way, it benefits from fog-cooled mornings and long, sun-drenched afternoons—conditions that balance ripeness with elegance.

The resulting wine is supple yet structured, bright yet deep. It captures the essence of its origin without embellishment—a quiet confidence in the glass.

Tasting note: Pale ruby with forest floor, bramble-berry (mixed blackberry and respberry) plum ,black tea and subtle dried aromas. On the palate, it’s light-bodied and very fresh with fine-grained velvety tannins and plum, bramble-berries, red cherry, and black tea flavors accented with savory notes of dried herb and baking spice. Medium + finish.13.9% abv| 90pts

A Lasting Impression

The 2020 Run Dog Vineyard Pinot Noir doesn’t clamor for attention—it earns it through clarity, balance, and grace. It’s a wine that unfolds rather than explodes, with a resonance that lingers beyond the final sip. For lovers of site-driven Pinot Noir—and for those who appreciate when place and person align—this bottle is well worth seeking out.