Overview
The 2024 Dexter Black Label Pinot Noir is a concentrated single vineyard Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir from the Dexter vineyard at Tuerong. Built from Pommard and MV6 clones, it combines open-knit drinkability with cherry-accented fruit, spice, fine tannins and the extra complexity of whole-bunch fermentation.
Vintage & Winemaking
The 2024 growing season began with mild spring temperatures, followed by heavy rainfall from December to February. While disease pressure was high across the region, Dexter's lower-elevation, northern Mornington Peninsula site retained clean, disease-free fruit. Cool late-summer temperatures helped Pinot Noir develop thicker skins, strong colour and fine tannin structure, while also supporting good stem lignification for whole-bunch fermentation.
MV6 and Pommard clones were hand picked separately. Half the fruit was destemmed without crushing and fermented as whole berries after a two-to-three-day cold soak. The other half was fermented as 100% whole bunches in covered fermenters, completing internal berry carbonic fermentation for two weeks before foot treading, draining and pressing. The wine was matured in French oak puncheons and bottled in December 2024, 10 months after harvest. The Black Label wines were then held in bottle for a further 10 months before release.
Product Highlights
- Black Label single vineyard Pinot Noir from Dexter's Mornington Peninsula estate.
- 95 points from Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion.
- 95 points from The Wine Front.
- 50% destemmed whole berry and 50% whole bunch fermentation.
- Drinking window from 2026 to 2034.
Critic Scores & Reviews
95 Points - Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
"Open-knit, supple and really delicious from first sniff to last sip." Published 17 February 2026.
95 Points - The Wine Front
2024 Vintage. Tasted October 2025.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Dark cherry, five spice, orange rind and exotic flowers, with particularly lifted spice and perfume in this vintage.
Palate
Concentrated fruit flavours and powerful tannins, with whole bunch adding exotic fruit sweetness and spice. Cherry accents, aniseed, daikon, cedar and savoury spice give extra complexity.
Finish
Long and detailed, with chewy tannins, Asian spice and generous fruit depth.
Food Pairing
Pairs well with chicken and turkey, jamon de pato, pato en mole verde, duck with pineapple and sweet and sour pork.
Cellaring Potential
Drink from 2026 to 2034.
About Dexter Wines
Dexter Wines is based at Tuerong on the Mornington Peninsula, where Tod and Debbie Dexter planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in 1987. Tod Dexter's experience includes seven years at Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley and a decade as head winemaker at Stonier Wines. The Dexter vineyard is planted on a north-facing slope, shaped by natural drainage, cooling sea breezes and careful site management.
Specifications
- Producer: Dexter Wines
- Vintage: 2024
- Country: Australia
- Region: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
- Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
- Clones: Pommard 63%, MV6 37%
- Wine Style: Red Wine - Light and Perfumed
- Oak Maturation: French oak puncheons
- Alcohol: 13.2%
- pH: 3.53
- Total Acidity: 5.7g/L
- Sweetness: Dry
- Bottle Size: 750ml
