Ten Minutes By Tractor Mornington Peninsula Estate Pinot Noir 2018

Heavier than normal winter rains and cooler temperatures delayed budburst (our second latest) but warmer spring weather resulted in perfect conditions for flowering leading to very good fruit set and promising high yields. In fact, particularly down the hill, crop adjustment was required to ensure even maturity and high quality outcomes. Grapes matured with optimum sugar, flavour and tannin development resulting in high quality parcels from all sites. It was our third earliest harvest, leading to our shortest ever hang time (budburst-harvest 179 days against an average of 203 days).

The grapes for Ten Minutes By Tractor Estate Pinot Noir 2018 vintage were hand-harvested late February-mid March. Whole bunches varied with different parcels between 0-20% with the destemmed portion all whole berries, and transferred to a mix of 5 tonne concrete and 1 tonne stainless steel tanks. Held cold for a few days to delay start of indigenous yeast ferment and typically spends a total of 25-30 days on skins. Cap management by pump over with some plunging towards the end of the ferment. Following pressing, the wine was transferred to 21% new 228 litre French oak barrels for 11 months. Natural 100% malolactic fermentation before bottling unfined and with minimal filtration.