Stallion Cellars

Don Baker

After years in the forestry field, Don decided to fully pursue his growing interest in wine and moved his family from Oregon to California. Now, with 27 harvests under his belt, his craftsmanship shows through in every bottle. As winemaker for Bighorn Cellars, Broken Barrel and Stallion Cellars, Don works to create the style of wine he is passionate about — elegant and balanced with the fruit showing the way.

Don's Winemaking Style

Don's wealth of practical knowledge and experience comes from his start at Joseph Phelps, time at several other prominent Napa vineyards and a period overseeing the Chilean operations of Kendall Jackson.

When it comes to winemaking, Don Baker believes that wine should be an expression of varietal purity. The fruit should shine first and foremost. To Don, winemaking is about bringing "perfect balance in the cellar to what Mother Nature has created in the vineyard." His goal is to simply guide his wines through fermentation, utilizing only the finest fruit and the gentlest handling possible.

Since Pinot Noir is an extremely delicate grape, requiring the utmost of gentle handling, his overall philosophy and style lends well here. Plus he believes Pinot Noir is one of the finest red wines in the world and treats it as such.

Stallion Cellars Pinot Noir 2005

The Stallion Cellar pinot noir grapes come from the cooler mountainside vineyards toward the south of Napa Valley. As a mountain grape grower, Don believes he starts with the best fruit this way. Then he leaves it alone to produce ripe cherry and strawberry fruits combined with an earthy side that adds cedar and clove to the taste. The end result is a flexible wine for many types of dishes.