Ten Minutes by Tractor - 'making waves'

Last week we were delighted to be visited by Martin Spedding from boutique Mornington Peninsula winery Ten Minutes by Tractor. For me especially, this is one producer visit that I always find particularly enjoyable, being one of my favourite wineries in the world. I 'discovered' it, and the rest of the Mornington, on a happy post-vintage trip when I was last in Australia, three years ago, as recommended by the winemaker I was working with at the time. Coming here and tasting at the cellar door then was a bit of a light-bulb moment for me. It was here when I finally 'got' Pinot Noir and Chardonnay - from this side of the world and from a cool climate, but it all suddenly made sense - over a taste of the 'difficult' 2011 vintage Pinot Noir.

This time, Martin was here for a 'Making Waves' tasting hosted at Australia House along with 11 other producers from the Mornington Peninsula. In the morning there was a masterclass in which Martin presented the McCutcheon Pinot Noir, and Coolart Road Pinot Noir - the latest edition to the Ten Minutes by Tractor portfolio - a whole bunch pressed Pinot Noir which offers an earthier style of wines relative to his others. A trade and press tasting followed where a number of friendly faces were in attendance.

Martin pouring at the Mornington Peninsula's Making Waves tasting, with an interested Oz Clarke in conversation

Martin's interest in wine is very much located in Burgundy when outside of his own native terra, evident in his own wines too. For me the contrast between the single vineyard wines never fails to fascinate - each one picked, produced and finished in the same way, and yet their styles are so very different from one to another - solely dependent on terroir to influence the varied aroma and flavours.

Martin Spedding dining out with Bancroft's Rob and Johnny

Staff tasting in the office of the new vintage releases

Chatting all things tractor over a glass or two of Burgundian Pinot Noir at 67 pall mall

Only 40 minutes or so from Melbourne, Heston Blumenthal and his newly incarnated residency down under, visited Ten Minutes by Tractor recently - and their newly opened second restaurant, le petit tracteur (the original one is a much loved, well-respected local haunt - always fully booked). At the restaurant they serve a Ten Minutes by Tractor Blanc de Blanc NV which you can now also find here, exclusively stocked through us at Harrods. It is wonderful stuff! We can't wait to visit....

Heston with Ten Minutes by Tractor's head chef Stewart and FOH Graham

Ten Minutes by Tractor, Sparkling Brut NV

Ten Minutes by Tractor was also featured in Matthew Jukes' Top 100 Australian Wines in this year's tasting, earning descriptions including:

"Oh my goodness me TMbT has blanket-bombed my palate this year and each and every wine is a winner."
(ref, 2013 Ten Minutes by Tractor, Wallis Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula, Vic | 13.8% | )

"The TMbT Chardonnay series has come from nowhere to pole position in just one lap. It's like everyone else on the grid is in a go-cart and these guys are a-top a Formula One tractor!"
(ref, 2013 Ten Minutes by Tractor, Mornington Peninsula, Vic | 13.8% | )

For sample requests or to find out more about Ten Minutes by Tractor, visit their website, or contact us.