Ten Minutes by Tractor Ten X Chardonnay 2020 (Mornington Peninsula)

Ten Minutes by Tractor is the convergence of wine journeys that began almost 40 years ago, a group of individuals and vineyards that fortuitously came together over time to create the winery that exists today.

The winery started in 1997 with three family owned vineyards in Main Ridge, all ten minutes by tractor apart. Since then we have added new vineyards, but all have their own unique character with different aspects, slopes, soils, altitude and winds which flow through the valleys up from Bass Strait. Cool places. Beautiful places. Places that are defined by the wines we make and which can seem like worlds apart.

Lower than average rainfall and relatively standard temperatures over winter and cooler temperatures over spring led to late budburst and flowering (our latest on record). A mild start to the summer delayed fruit set followed by mild conditions over autumn providing slower ripening and resulting in a later start to the vintage (2 weeks later than average). Yields were significantly reduced but those grapes that were picked were of good quality – great natural acidity and lovely flavours in our Chardonnay with the Pinot Noir benefitting from the long cool ripening..

The fruit for the 10 X Ten Minutes by Tractor 2020 vintage Chardonnay were hand-harvested from mid March to early April. Whole bunch pressed to tank where the juice was cold settled for 48 hours • juice was then racked taking light fluffly lees and transferred to oak for wild ferment. After 11 months of oak maturation, bottled un-fined and filtered February 2020. Partial malolactic fermentation (60%). Winery Notes