{"product_id":"australia-ten-minutes-by-tractor-10x-pinot-noir-2024-mornington-peninsula","title":"Australia: Ten Minutes By Tractor - 10X Pinot Noir 2024, Mornington Peninsula","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape variety: 100% Pinot Noir. 13% alcohol. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Remarkable wine that punches well above its price level”- Huon Hooke, The Real Review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Ten Minutes By Tractor is a major force to be reckoned with in the world of global Pinot Noir worship\" - Matthew Jukes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile a lighthearted name - so-called as their three neighbouring vineyards are each 'ten minutes by tractor' apart - this estate happens to be one of the finest sources of Pinot Noir not just in Australia but the whole world. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOwned and run by the Spedding family, their wines are legendary in wine circles and while they weren't the first producer on the Peninsula, their single-vineyard bottlings from the 2000 vintage onwards were quickly recognised as being amongst the very best. This is an epic producer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn some vintages and for some time now, Mornington Pinot Noirs have tended to be more accessible, reliable, and true-to-style than equivalent Burgundies, thanks to the Peninsula's exposure to cooling ocean breezes lessening the effect of rising temperatures, moderating ripeness and thus alcohol, and preserving freshness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis might be Australia, yes, but ditch the stereotypes: this is a cool-climate region, just a ten minute drive (by car!) from the notoriously breezy Bass Strait. They even get a touch less ripeness here than at Danbury Ridge, Essex!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe producers on the Mornington Peninsula, around an hour's drive south of Melbourne, are all small-scale and unshowy, and mostly family owned and run. Quite a few run their own restaurants on site, making the area a foodie paradise. There are no corporate behemoths churning out mass-market brands here! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSustainability at Ten Minutes By Tractor: \u003c\/strong\u003ehere, we are talking small-batch wild ferments i.e. the use of indigenous yeasts naturally present in the vineyard and winery (instead of using mass-produced 'cultured' yeasts that come in a bag!) for spontaneous rather than winemaker-induced fermentation. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe estate is run along organic and regenerative lines which involves: preserving soil health and biodiversity, zero herbicide use, cover cropping, water efficiency, a lot of work by hand on canopy management to minimise disease risk naturally rather than via frequent spraying. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWinemaking here is top-notch: spontaneous fermentations require much more focused and attentive winemaking, while oak is used here only to support\/frame the wines, not to flavour them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAll of this estate's Pinots (of which there are several from various vineyard blocks) sit at 13% alcohol - which any honest winemaker will tell you is spot on for this variety, and increasingly a rarity in several recent vintages in Burgundy and elsewhere. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis wine spent 5 months in French oak barrels, only 15% of which were new, and it was fermented only by wild yeasts. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Notes: \u003c\/strong\u003e“Vibrant red cherry, raspberry compote and chinotto fill the luscious palate…underlying baking spice gives a lovely savoury backbone.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood pairing:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLight to medium red-meats: lamb, duck, game, especially with gentle pan sauces or reductions. Herby or earthy dishes e.g. mushrooms, root-vegetables, chestnut\/spice, dishes with thyme\/rosemary\/sage. Delicate poultry or richer fish - think duck breast, roast chicken with herbs, salmon or trout with light jus or berry-glaze.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the critics say:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Ten Minutes By Tractor is a major force to be reckoned with in the world of global Pinot Noir worship\" - Matthew Jukes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"The wines from this estate have become classier and classier with each passing year. Indeed, it's fast heading for elite status\" - Campbell Mattinson \u0026amp; Gary Walsh \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 points - Huon Hooke, The Real Review: \u003c\/strong\u003e“Deep, bright red with a good tint of purple; the bouquet starts with smoky\/meaty charcuterie reductive characters, rich ripe black cherry underneath. The palate is full and rich with good concentration, extract and persuasive tannins that supply an excellent backbone of structure. A powerful pinot noir with real presence and persistence. Remarkable wine that punches well above its price level.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTen Minutes By Tractor is \"a stand out; a benchmark\" - Jancis Robinson MW\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0948\/7741\/7819\/files\/10_Mins_By_Tractor_Logo.jpg?v=1779913620\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"#WineObsessed","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53127484571995,"sku":null,"price":29.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0948\/7741\/7819\/files\/10XPinotbottleBestOne.png?v=1779916131","url":"https:\/\/wineobsessed.co.uk\/products\/australia-ten-minutes-by-tractor-10x-pinot-noir-2024-mornington-peninsula","provider":"#WineObsessed","version":"1.0","type":"link"}