Dexter Pinot Noir 2019

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.

"While there's no shortage of flavour, tannin or acidity, Dexter wines tend to be in a tighter, almost lighter frame. As always, the aromas are wonderful – wild strawberries and an abundance of cherries, all dusted with Middle Eastern spices, including sumac. There's cherry liqueur across the palate and a vibrancy for enjoyment now, yet will reward the patient."  Jane Faulkner

"Aromas of dark berry fruits such as blackberry, plums and cherries with background aromas of dried herbs and spices. Lovely lift and powerful fragrance. The wine is similar to the 2018 with more concentration as a result of the fruit thinning. 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. 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%)."  Dexter Wines

Huon Hooke reviews Dexter Pinot Noir 2019
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Expert reviews

"Bright, medium to deep red/purple colour. The bouquet is meaty/charcuterie-like and spicy, earthy, smoky, while the palate is quite full-bodied for a Mornington pinot and fills the entire mouth, resonating long on the aftertaste. There are plenty of tannins which are supple and fine-grained, the finish persisting long with savoury characteristics. An ample, generous pinot with stacks of flavour. It will richly reward a few years cellaring too. Drink: 2021–2034."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 96 points

"While there's no shortage of flavour, tannin or acidity, Dexter wines tend to be in a tighter, almost lighter frame. As always, the aromas are wonderful – wild strawberries and an abundance of cherries, all dusted with Middle Eastern spices, including sumac. There's cherry liqueur across the palate and a vibrancy for enjoyment now, yet will reward the patient. Drink by 2030."  Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion - 95 points

"The Dexter family vineyard was planted in 1987. Tod Dexter himself has 40 years of winemaking experience. I think he must have started making wine at aged 12. Excellent release. Firm, spicy and a touch meaty, in a positive way, with graphite and succulent poached strawberry flavours putting on a confident display. There are mint notes here and a touch of warmth too, along with plum, along with roasted nut. Balance here is key; everything here feels poised and placed with care. It's a lovely drink now but it will age. Drink : 2021 - 2031."  Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front - 94 points

"If you don't know Dexter wines, then it is time to get acquainted. The wines come from a single vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula, part of which was first planted in 1987, and are made by Tod Dexter, one of the first winemakers in the area. With only 7 hectares planted of chardonnay and pinot noir combined, there is not much to go around so you might have to do a little work to track this wine down, but it will be worth it.

It's a full-flavoured style of pinot noir thanks to the warm 2019 vintage but at the same time it also carries with it significant complexity. The aromatics are generous and even – raspberry and dark cherry fruits with tilled earth are supported by plenty of well balanced oak. It is then dry and fleshy with reserved acidity for pinot noir which gives a beautifully silky texture. Fruit again is in the earthy/ red berry spectrum but also with an attractive sappy edge and tannic bite that give good palate definition. There is also superb balance and length which also marks this as a very smart and serious Mornington Pinot. Enjoy with mushroom risotto. Drink: 2021 - 2030."  Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot - 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.