Ten Minutes by Tractor 10X Pinot Noir 2024

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.

Tasting notes by Imogen and Martin:

“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.”