Ten Minutes by Tractor


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SPARKLING BLANC DE BLANCS 2019
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Lower than average rainfall and relatively standard temperatures over winter, and cooler temperatures in August and September, led to late budburst and flowering. However, above average temperatures and low rainfall during summer meant an early veraison and harvest. The period between flowering and veraison saw our warmest ever average minimum and second warmest maximums. Veraison to harvest was our fourth warmest maximums and our driest. Five days of above average temperatures at the beginning of harvest compressed the vintage further. Yields are normal and fruit quality is outstanding.

Fruit was whole bunch pressed. 4 months in 5 year old barriques with minimal bâtonnage. Partial malolactic fermentation. The base wine was then assembled and tiraged to bottle after 32 months on lees. The wine was riddled and disgorged and topped with our own liqueur made from back and current vintage wine with a 3g/L dosage. Disgorged 9 January 2023.

 

10X ROSE 2023
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This rose displays classic Provence style blush pink colouring. The wine is 100% pinot noir coming from various vineyards across the Mornington Peninsula balancing weight and concentration from lower elevation sites and freshness and minerality coming from cooler Main ridge vineyards.

The fruit is all handpicked and is whole bunch pressed into older barriques for fermentation. A small portion is kept as whole bunches allowing for carbonic maceration that adds a roundness to the palate. The wine undergoes partial malolactic, retaining freshness and verve. A short maturation of 4 months in older French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

 

10X PINOT GRIS 2024
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The 2024 10x Pinot gris is sourced from leased vineyards, Osborne and Hunts road. Both sites are in the northern section of the Mornington Peninsula near Bittern which is at lower altitudes than the vineyard sites in Main ridge and Red Hill, typically showcasing riper fruit with great concentration.

The fruit is all hand picked before rigorous sorting in the winery. The fruit is whole bunch pressed on a gentle cycle before wild fermentation occurs in both concrete and neutral oak barrels of varying sizes. A small percentage of the barrels were selected and underwent battonage to further increase the texture. The wine was matured for 4 months post malolactic fermentation in 5-8 year old barrels.

 

10X BARREL FERMENTED SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022
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The 2022 season started with a very wet and variable spring, resulting in poor flowering, small bunches and reduced yields across many sites. However, the exceptional summer and autumn months to follow provided perfect ripening conditions that generated great concentration and striking flavours across all varieties. Whole bunch pressed to tank, racked taking light fluffly lees to barrel for natural fermentation. 5 months in barrel with bâtonnage twice a week. The wine was then blended in stainless steel tank where it underwent natural partial malolactic fermentation before being filtered and bottled.

 

10X CHARDONNAY 2024
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The 2024 10X Chardonnay is sourced predominantly from what the winery refers to as the ‘down the hill’ sites from leased vineyards of Osbourne, Hunts Road & Mills. ‘Seasoning added’ from their now esteemed McCutcheon & Wallis vineyards in Main Ridge, part of the original founding families of Ten Minutes by Tractor.

Hand picked. 100% barrel fermented to a combination of French barrique & puncheons (touch of Austrian in the blend) from Taransaud 11% new oak. Imogen (head winemaker) remarks on her enjoyment of using this cooper due to it’s subtlety which works well with the Mornington fruit. Some battonage and partial malolactic. 5 months in Oak.

“A refined nose of lemon sorbet, pink grapefruit and frangipanni flowers. Some underlying shortbread crust. The palate shows flavours of pink grapefruit and orange pith, preserved lemon and ginger. The vibrant and refreshing nature of this wine leaves you with a lovely moreish, savory, saline finish” – Tasting notes by Imogen + Martin

 

10X PINOT NOIR 2024
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Affordable yet high quality Pinot Noir from the Mornington? | know, there’s something wrong in the maths. But Martin Spedding’s passion to continue to make the 10X range with as much care as the Estate and Single Vineyard sites receive is a reflection on his attention to detail in all things Ten Minutes by Tractor.

The larger part of this wine comes from the family owned Coolart Road vineyard, ‘Down the Hill’ from the winery itself in Red Hill and a site with a higher clay content which is reflected in the style of this wine, along with parcels from Hunts Road, Capella, Wallis, Paradigm Hill with a dash from McCutcheon, one of the other single vineyard bottlings the estate produce.

Hand-sorted, with the majority of the fruit being destemmed. Some of the parcels (particularly the vineyards with higher elevation such as McCutcheon) see some whole-bunch but it’s very much just a touch of seasoning than a defining part of the winemaking for the 10X.

Cold soaked for 4 days prior to fermentation. Fermented in a combination of concrete (the winery has a large % of small to medium sized open top concrete fermenters) and stainless steel. Elevage in French barrique and puncheon for 5 months, 15% new.

“An inviting perfumed nose of black forest cake, red fruits, florals, and creaming soda. Vibrant red cherry, raspberry compote and chinotto fill the luscious palate. This is followed by underlying baking spice to give a lovely savory backbone.  Well-integrated powdery tannins give structure and length” – Tasting notes by Imogen + Martin

 

10X SHIRAZ 2023
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The 2023 10x shiraz is sourced from the Paradigm hill vineyard in Merricks and Hunts Road vineyard near Bittern. The cool climate of the Mornington Peninsula only allows Shiraz to ripen in certain vineyard sites, Western aspects and lower elevations are essential to ripening this thicker skinned varietal in the Mornington Peninsula.

 The fruit is all hand harvested and sorted into individual parcels before being destemmed. The fruit then underwent a pre fermentation cold soak for 5 days, the process enhancing the softness of tannins and a rounded mouth feel. Tannin extraction was gentle with singular pump overs daily and a racking post fermentation. The wine is pressed after 16 day fermentation and transferred to oak barrels for Malolactic. The wine matures for 11 months in both new and older french oak barrels before bottling unfined and unfiltered.

 

ESTATE RIESLING 2024
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The 2024 Estate Riesling is sourced from the Paradigm Hill vineyard in Merricks. Riesling is scarcely planted across the Mornington Peninsula but thrives in the cool climate

Fruit was handpicked and chilled overnight before a gentle whole bunch press. Juice was then settled in stainless steel to remove gross lees. Wild fermentation occurred in concrete vessels with only the light fluffy lees retaining delicate primary fruit aromas. No malolactic fermentation occurs resulting in great natural acidity and drive on the palate. The wine rested in stainless steel for 2 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Residual sugar around 2g/L gives a soft and pillowy feel to the generous body.

 

ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2022
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The 2022 Estate chardonnay exhibits great concentration and striking flavours which developed effortlessly from the 2022 vintage. The vintage had a cool start with wet conditions which saw small bunches develop across the vineyards. A mild summer and autumn provided a long season allowing the development of great intensity and complexity of flavours.

Each parcel of fruit was hand-picked and sorted before being whole bunch pressed into a combination of older and new oak barrels for wild fermentation. Malolactic was sporadic across individual barrels and blending of these parcels gave a beautiful balance within the wine. Maturation in oak barrels (18% New) for 10 months before bottling.

 

ESTATE ‘DOWN THE HILL’ PINOT NOIR 2022
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The 2022 ‘Down the Hill’ Pinot Noir is selected from both Coolart Road and Paradigm Hill. Both vineyards are situated at lower elevations on the Mornington Peninsula and are the earliest to ripen of all the estate’s vineyards. These earlier ripening sites often give darker colour, fuller flavour and firmer tannins than those vineyards at higher elevations.

The fruit is hand sorted and mostly destemmed, a small proportion of whole bunches are added to give savoury complexity. Ferment lasts between 18-24 days in concrete, stainless steel and oak vessels. Maturation is completed in oak barriques and puncheons for 8 months with 20% new oak used.

 

ESTATE ‘UP THE HILL’ PINOT NOIR 2022
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The 2022 ‘Up the Hill’ Estate Pinot Noir is sourced from the estates Main ridge and Red Hill vineyard sites; Judd, Wallis, McCutcheon and Spedding. These vineyards are all situated on higher elevations from 125m to 206m above sea level resulting in fruit that is pure and delicate, creating a refined and elegant style of Pinot Noir.

The fruit for this wine is all handpicked and sorted upon arrival at the winery. Each parcel was cold soaked to allow for maximum colour extraction before wild fermentation begins. Fermentation occurs in both stainless steel and concrete vessels, to add textural complexity. Once completed the wine is pressed off and matured in oak vessels (15% New) for 8 months. Oak vessels are both barrique and puncheon sizes.

 

The Wallis Vineyard was first planted in 1992 by the Wallis family, focusing on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It sits between 110 and 142 metres and whilst considered a part of the ‘Up the Hill’ vineyards Ten Minutes by Tractor bottle as single site expressions it’s the first one you reach as you climb in altitude.

All fruit was handpicked and whole bunch pressed into small and large format oak for wild yeast fermentation. Malolactic ensued naturally and reached 68%. The wine matured for 10 months in larger oak puncheons with 25% new oak.

Low yields is definitely the flavour of the 2022 vintage thus the 2022 Wallis Vineyard Chardonnay offers great generosity and power. Low yields of smaller bunches equal great concentration.

The 2022 Wallis Chardonnay exhibits exotic spice and floral notes with hints of oyster shell and cumquat. An alluring wine with linear acidity and great complexity.

 

The Judd vineyard was first planted in 1990 and is the steepest and highest elevation vineyard of the estate, reaching 206m at its highest point. The west facing vineyard experiences great afternoon sun and latent heat which gives fantastic ripeness which is balanced with textbook mineral driven acidity. The 2022 vintage is a lovely example which highlights the ability of Judd to balance fruit intensity and refined minerality. The fruit was all handpicked and wild fermented in small and large format oak barrels. Malolactic occurred naturally and completed to 91%, the wine was matured for 10 months in 25% new oak.

“Rich spicy aromas, citrusy, floral and stony mineral notes, the palate intense and focused, taut and tense with great precision and high acidity that draws the palate right out. A gorgeous chardonnay of terrific refinement, line and length. 2024–2034.” – 96 Points – Huon Hooke, The Real Review

 

COOLART ROAD PINOT NOIR 2022
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The Coolart Road vineyard is the warmest site of the Ten Minutes By Tractor single vineyard wines, regularly ripening up to 4 weeks earlier than Judd and McCutcheon up in Main Ridge. Planted in 2000. 100% Pinot Noir. The combination of the warmer micro climate and deeper soils further down the hill gives a this wine it’s signature dark cherry fruit and exotic spice tones.

This Pinot Noir is always a careful selection from what they consider are the best blocks in the Coolart Road vineyard. The 2022 vintage utilises the finesse and poise from F block in the upper section of the Vineyard.

Handpicked fruit is sorted manually and individual parcels receive a 5-day cold soak before wild yeast fermentation. Both concrete and stainless steel are used. The wine is aged for 8 months in a range of oak vessels, 26% new (600L).

“Rich, full-bodied, dense and plummy pinot noir, more earthbound aromas. Deep, dense and tannic. A robust style of pinot noir—the Pommard of the group! (10% whole-bunches). 2024–2037.” – 95 Points – Huon Hooke, The Real Review

 

JUDD PINOT NOIR 2022
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The Judd Pinot Noir block sits on the lower elevation side of the vineyard allowing for maximum ripeness, the West facing vineyard receives great sunlight throughout the afternoon until sunset and radiates that heat back into the vines throughout the evening.

The 2022 Judd Pinot Noir is quintessential Main Ridge with ripe berry fruit with a detailed palate of savoury spice and earth.

Fruit was handpicked and sorted before cold soaking for 5 days to maximise colour extraction. Fermentation using wild yeast lasted for 14 days on skins before a gentle pressing. The wine matured for 8 months in 15% new oak in both large and smaller format barrels.

“A highly perfumed pinot, with pot-pourri, leaf-litter/undergrowth, ethereal aromatics. A delicate, light bodied and lively. Refined raspberry and spice flavours, has intensity and medium-long carry. A subtle style of pinot noir. 2024–2032.”  – 93 Points – Huon Hooke, The Real Review

 

MCCUTCHEON PINOT NOIR 2022
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The McCutcheon Vineyard is situated in Main ridge at an elevation of 180m to 200m. The Vineyard is east facing and attracts the beautiful morning sun, kickstarting the ripening early in the day. The afternoons are cooler allowing gentle ripening and the retention of refreshing acidity.

The 2022 McCutcheon Pinot Noir was handpicked and destemmed before wild fermentation for 14 days in both concrete and stainless-steel fermenters with gentle cap management to allow for light tannin extraction. The wine is pressed off lightly and matures in 25% new oak for 8 months before bottling.

“Terrestrial, earthy, undergrowth aromas together with five spice and darker fruits. A bigger wine with density, structure, richness, concentration. Enormous palate length. A cracking pinot noir. 2024–2037.” – 97 Points – Huon Hooke, The Real Review

 

WALLIS PINOT NOIR 2022
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The Wallis Vineyard was first planted in 1992 by the Wallis family, focusing on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It sits between 110 and 142 metres and whilst considered a part of the ‘Up the Hill’ vineyards Ten Minutes by Tractor bottle as single site expressions it’s the first one you reach as you climb in altitude.

The 2022 Wallis Pinot Noir is hand-picked from individually selected vineyard blocks within the single vineyard plantings.

The MV6 parcel is fermented in Italian concrete fermenters. Clone 115 remained in Stainless steel. Maturation for 9 months in 18% new French oak. The separate parcels are then blended post maturation.

The 2022 Wallis Pinot Noir has a dark and alluring nose with red cherry, plum and violets.

Silky firm tannins provide structure for the intensity of flavours, presenting Blackcurrant, cherry and dried rose petal.

“Spicy dark and red fruits on the bouquet; concentrated flavour with lovely intensity and drive. Balsamic herbs and violets. Real richness, fleshy density, compact, with terrific focus, line and length. 2024–2034.” – 95 Points – Huon Hooke, The Real Review

 

HEATHCOTE SHIRAZ VIOGNIER 2022
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Sourced from the Merindoc Vineyard in the cooler foothills of the Heathcote region. The inclusion of viognier adds aromatic lift and intensity to the shiraz which exhibits power and depth of flavour.

The shiraz was all handpicked then divided into two parcels, the fruit was transferred into stainless steel.  The first ferment included 30% whole bunches and the second was co-fermented with viognier. Wine was kept on skins for 14 days before pressed into a mix of older and new French oak barriques where the wine remained for 13 months before bottling.

 

 

TRAHERE RANGE

The Trahere wines are a first look at a long-term project from the team. Martin and the team sought inspiration from the best vineyards of the Cote d’Or in Burgundy and planted 2 vineyards in Main ridge (Spedding and Gabrielle) with high density Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (12,120 vines/ha) and medium density chardonnay (6,060 vines/ha) . The intention is to increase interrow competition and to drive roots deep into the soils, which allows young vines to establish themselves in a shorter period.

It is clear these high density plantings are having a very positive impact on fruit quality, helping to elevate the wine quality and structure to a higher level. Our experience has seen smaller berries and bunch sizes, balanced crop loads, cane, bunch and berry stem lignification are more developed. These are all key attributes for high quality wine production and help counteract climatic challenges to viticulture in the Mornington Peninsula.

The name Trahere is latin in origin and is a verb meaning ‘to draw or pull’ this name holds further meaning for the estate as this limited release wine is the culmination of all their efforts, the land they work, drive for progress and to pull forward.

The Trahere chardonnay and Trahere pinot noir are the ultimate expression of their beautiful vineyards, the vintage and the estate.

 

The 2021 Trahere chardonnay is the first iteration of the Trahere wines. The majority of the fruit was sourced from the Spedding vineyards Medium density vines with a small proportion from the McCutcheon and Judd vineyards. The vintage was moderate with summer dry spells which resulted in slow ripening, giving depth and great concentration of flavours.

All fruit was handpicked and sorted before being whole bunch pressed gently. Juice settled in stainless steel for 24 hours before being racked into barrel for wild fermentation. Malolactic was natural and stopped once balance was assessed by the team. The wine matured for 10 months in around 20% new oak. The wine holds great natural acidity, a result of the cooler vintage and long growing season.

“Bright light to medium depth yellow colour, the bouquet wonderfully detailed with several variations on citrus, especially lemon and grapefruit, plus hints of beeswax and lightly toasted hazelnuts. Oak is seamlessly integrated. In the mouth, very intense and yet refined and light on its feet, with refreshing properties and tremendous persistence. A great chardonnay. (50% Spedding vineyard, 33% McCutcheon, 17% Judd. 20% new oak)” – 98 Points – Huon Hooke – The Real Review

 

TRAHERE PINOT NOIR 2021
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The 2021 Trahere showcases the best characters of Mornington Peninsula pinot noir, laden with complex red fruit notes with earth and spicy undertones. The fruit is sourced from the estates best vineyard sites; Spedding vineyard which boasts high density plantings of 4 different clones of pinot noir (Calera, Abel, Pommard, MV6) as well as a small proportion from the Judd and McCutcheon vineyards.

All parcels are handpicked and sorted before being destemmed. Destemmed fruit  The wild fermentation on skins is for 17 days before pressing into barrel for maturation for 13 months with 22% new French oak used. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, retaining great purity and concentration.

“Medium depth of bright ruby colour with a tinge of purple; the bouquet very fragrant, lifted and fresh, with red cherry, strawberry and raspberry aromas and a lick of five-spice, plus a layer of autumn leaves/forest-floor/pot-pourri. A pristine wine in a delicate, highly detailed, filigreed style, ethereal and texturally refined, and quite beautiful. (50% high-density Gabrielle vineyard, 50% Judd and McCutcheon vineyards, 22% new oak)” – 97 Points – Huon Hooke – The Real Review