Description
The Winery started in 1997 with 3 family owned vineyards in Main Ridge, all Ten Minutes by Tractor apart. Over the past two decades, Martin and Karen Spedding have added four more vineyards from a diverse range of microclimates from across the Mornington Peninsula.
Each vineyard shows a unique sense of place and Terroir as the differences in aspect, slope, soil, altitude and maritime influence give each site their particular characters. Ten Minutes by Tractor has solidified themselves amongst some of the most sought after producers of the Mornington Peninsula along with arguably some of the best single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir bottlings in Australia.
The cool climate Mornington Peninsula is internationally recognised for producing some of Australia’s finest examples of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Almost half of the vines are Pinot Noir, followed closely by Chardonnay. There are currently over 200 vineyards, 60 wineries and at least 50 cellar doors. Most are concentrated around Red Hill, Red Hill South and Main Ridge, with clusters at Moorooduc and Tuerong, Balnarring and Merricks.
There are no official sub regions of the Mornington peninsula, though locally there is a clear understanding of the differences in what the local vignerons refer to as ‘up the hill’ and ‘down the hill’ – in elevation, aspect, temperature, rainfall and soils which result in significant difference in harvest dates and the style of wine produced across the region.
This difference is summarised perfectly in the fact that all the Main Ridge Pinot Noir is harvested an average of 23 days later than ‘Down the Hill’ at our Coolart Road vineyard.
In the Vineyards the focus is an unrelenting effort to grow the best fruit possible with meticulous care of our Premium blocks. Observing and managing the requirements of each vine and the fruit that is produced ensures they maintain healthy and balanced vines throughout the growing season and produce fruit with has the flavour, balance, and complexity in which we aspire to.
The Cultivation of vineyard soils and use of sustainable vineyard practices are central to their vineyard management philosophy, that preserves and promotes the natural terroir of their vineyards and produces superior wines.
Newer vineyard plantings of the Spedding and Gabrielle vineyards are at high density to promote interrow competition and drive root systems deeper into the soils, promoting smaller bunches, berries and quality. Their low intervention approach uses natural and traditional processes to enhance complexity, elegance and balance in our wines, this includes the use of indigenous yeasts throughout all their wines. Their wines are bottled under screw cap to prevent cork tant and random oxidation and to preserve the pristine character of our wines.
About this wine: The 2022 season started with a very wet and variable spring before and during flowering, resulting in small bunches and berries and reduced yields across most sites. However, the exceptional summer and autumn months that followed provided perfect ripening conditions, resulting in great concentration, colour and striking flavours across all varieties.
Hand sorted on sorting table. Wild yeast fermentation, 18-24 days on skins in a combination of concrete, stainless steel and oak fermenters. Some whole bunch was used across various parcels. Aged in oak in barrique and puncheon formats. The wines was in barrel for 8 months and went through a natural malolactic fermentation before it was blended, filtered and bottled.
The deep red purple colour of this wine does not disappoint. A brooding mix of savoury characters; charcuterie and hints of leather together with blue and dark fruits and a striking raspberry edge. The palate is layered, sultry, and complex and will provide much joy in the years ahead.
Newly arrived … reviews for 2021 .. 94 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front “Firmer, darker and bolder than the Up the Hill version, and none the lesser for it. This is a thoroughly convincing pinot noir. Amaro-like herb and nut notes, drives of black cherry, woodsy spice notes dug into the tannin, and a suggestion of mint. It has a slightly macerated/stewy feel, but it works in context. There’s authority here.”
RRP $73 Our Special Price $58.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine
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