Dexter Pinot Noir 2018

Tod Dexter purchased a vineyard site at Tuerong on the Mornington Peninsula in 1987 and planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. He became winemaker at Stonier and then Yabby Lake and during that period the Dexter Vineyard provided Stonier with reserve-grade fruit. Almost 20 years later, and with a wealth of experience behind him, he started his own label. What he strives for in his Pinot Noir is what he looks for in any wine he drinks - aromatics, prettiness, texture, elegance, line and length.

"Vintage conditions add tone and contrast, but Dexter Pinot always tastes like Dexter Pinot. The site is strong with this one. Delicate and pretty as ever, with a fine dusting of emery tannin, mouth-perfume and red fruits, fresh plum, a slight warmth this vintage, but it's not intrusive, and the finish is clean and long. Lovely lovely."  Gary Walsh

An absolutely outstanding pinot noir from the pinot maestro in 2018 – perhaps even as good as the superlative 2017 vintage. Powerful and flavoursome, but gentle and elegant to boot; exceptionally long on the palate; destined to be one of the best pinot noirs to come out of Mornington Peninsula.

"Aromas of dark berry fruits such as blackberry, plums and cherries with background aromas of dried herbs and spices. The wine is similar to the 2016. The complex flavours are of blackberries, plums, spices and hints of oak. It has a soft entry with mid palate fruit sweetness and lovely texture. The finish is long with balanced acid and fine tannins. It should age very well. Matured in French Oak puncheons (25% new, 20% second use, 12% third use and 43% older) for 9 months. Clones: MV6 (50%) 777 (18%) D5V12 (18%) Pommard (14%). Matured in French Oak puncheons (25% New, 15% second use 21% third use and 39% older) for 8 months. Clones: MV6 (70%) 777 (20%) D5V12 (10%)."  Dexter Wines

Expert reviews

"The perfumed blossom scents of the bouquet are signals not to be missed because of the light, clear colour. The wine builds progressively as it journeys through the mouth to the lifted finish. Drink by 2029."  James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 95 points

"Vintage conditions add tone and contrast, but Dexter Pinot always tastes like Dexter Pinot. The site is strong with this one. Poached strawberry, mint cream, spice and fragrance. Delicate and pretty as ever, with a fine dusting of emery tannin, mouth-perfume and red fruits, fresh plum, a slight warmth this vintage, but it's not intrusive, and the finish is clean and long. Lovely lovely. Price: $60. Drink: 2020-2030."  Gary Walsh, The Wine Front - 94 points

About the winery

Tod Dexter, the man behind the Dexter label, grew up with wine. A childhood friendship with one of Melbourne's premium wine merchants, the Crittenden family, introduced him to the vast world of wine. It was then no surprise that in 1974 after working a ski season in the US, Tod ended up in the Napa Valley where he spent a seven-year apprenticeship with one of California's premium family wineries, Cakebread Cellars. During that period he met his wife Debbie, and the two of them started to toy with the idea of setting up in Australia. Back-to-back vintages at Brown Brothers in the King Valley in 1985 and '86 served as a trial.

Tod moved home to Australia in January 1987 and purchased a vineyard site at Tuerong on the Mornington Peninsula. Later that year, he planted 1.6 hectares of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. To keep the wolves from the door he became winemaker at Stonier and over the next ten years, he and Brian Stonier grew the company to become one of Australia's premium producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. During this decade Tod leased his vineyard to Stonier and the Dexter vineyard provided them with reserve-grade fruit.

Dexter left Stonier in 2003 to take the reins at Yabby Lake, whose vineyards are a stone's throw from his own. In 2006 he turned 50. A friend told him if he didn't do his own thing now, it'd never happen. So almost 20 years after the first vines in the Dexter vineyard were planted, and with a wealth of experience behind him, Dexter Wines was born. His vineyard is planted to 4 hectares of Pinot Noir and 3.1 hectares of Chardonnay and he makes roughly the same quantity of each.