Ten Minutes by Tractor needs little introduction, nor does the man in charge, Martin Spedding. A gently-spoken man with a background in finance and IT, in 2002, he finally acknowledged the fact that his true passion lay in wine. Despite his origins in New South Wales, he simply couldn’t get enough of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and would travel down to Victoria to immerse himself in Australia’s heartland of these noble varieties. In 2003, he visited one of his favourite small wineries on Mornington Peninsula and was delighted to discover that it was for sale. Without a moment’s hesitation, he snapped it up, and so began Martin’s journey with Ten Minutes by Tractor.

The 2021 McCutcheon Pinot Noir is a captivating expression of the Mornington Peninsula’s cool-climate terroir. On the nose, it unveils a symphony of rose petals, sweet rhubarb, spiced sumac, bramble, and autumnal characters. The palate is equally alluring, with dried red berries, plum, and strawberry gliding across, complemented by blood orange and plum pudding notes. A delicate red wine jus leads into a savoury edge of leather, cinnamon spice, and finely detailed tannins, culminating in a complex and finely structured finish.