Martin Spedding (pictured), owner of Mornington Peninsula high flyer Ten Minutes by Tractor, was in town yesterday to present an exciting vertical of his Pinot Noirs, all 10 years of them!
The estate, whose Pinot Noirs include 3 single vineyard wines, the Estate wine and entry level 10 X, has produced no less than 35 Pinots in this short space of time. We looked at 10:
Ten Minutes by Tractor Wallis Vineyard Pinot Noir 2000
Ten Minutes by Tractor Reserve Pinot Noir 2001
Ten Minutes by Tractor Wallis Vineyard Pinot Noir 2003
Ten Minutes by Tractor 10 X Pinot Noir 2004
Ten Minutes by Tractor Pinot Noir 2005
Ten Minutes by Tractor Pinot Noir 2006
Ten Minutes by Tractor McCuthcheon Pinot Noir 2007
Ten Minutes by Tractor Wallis Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008
Ten Minutes by Tractor 10 X Pinot Noir 2009
Ten Minutes by Tractor 10 X Pinot Noir 2010 (pictured in its new livery).
On song and showy, the McCutcheon Pinot Noir 2007 melted hearts. But, at around half the price, the consistently impressive 10 X Tractor won hearts and minds for its sheer drinkability, combined with freshness and lift. Describing himself as a purist whose first priority is the single vineyard wines, Spedding reckons, while it might be argued vineyard blends are “a bit contrived,” nonetheless with 10 X, the aim is still “to reflect that vintage, and what we can produce off our estate.” Incidentally, 10 X now includes fruit from a northerly located vineyard which , he joked, is ”10 minutes by car.”
Tasting notes to follow.
Posted Friday 13th May 2011
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