Ten Minutes by Tractor have again managed to produce a number of high quality, interesting and varied single vineyard pinot noirs, this time from the 2016 vintage. This is a warm and early vintage in the Mornington Peninsula as outlined in my post on the whites (see here) and the vineyards are the same, with the addition of two. The first is a Wallis single vineyard wine from a new region for this producer – Tasmania. This seems to me a clever addition. The Wallis Tasmanian wine is from a 0.3 hectare single vineyard site alongside the Tamar River north of Launceston. The second single vineyard is from the Coolart Road vineyard, which is “down the hill” and closer to Hastings. It’s the source of some outstanding wine in prior vintages. Thoughts on each of the wines follow.
McCutcheon Pinot Noir 2016
This is a refined pinot noir with aromas of blackcurrant and leaf. There’s good length on the palate and savoury cherry fruit. A harmonious and refined wine that can be approached now. Rating: Very Good. Abv: 13.5%. Price: $78. Source: Sample.
Judd Pinot Noir 2016
Yields are only 15hl/ha for this wine. It opens to intense aromas of saturated red cherries and florals. The palate is between medium and long length, and the palate is fleshy, with blackcurrants and leaf also predominant. Quite Burgundian in styling. Rating: Very Good. Abv: 13.5%. Price: $78. Source: Sample.
Wallis Pinot Noir 2016
Oh yes. A complete pinot noir aroma with glimpses of rhubarb, blackcurrant, leaf, forest floor and red fruits. The palate has acidity, length, a medium body, some light and very fine tannins and great length on the finish. A classy, refined pinot noir that can be approached now and over the next 5 to 8 years. Rating: Outstanding. Abv: 13.5%. Price: $78. Source: Sample.
Coolart Road Pinot Noir 2016
This has some depth of colour, for pinot noir. Its aroma is quite intense, with reminders of rhubarb, leaf and blackcurrants. The palate is super youthful at the moment, with some CO2 and plenty of red fruits. This is an attractive, enjoyable and forward drinking style. Rating: Very Good. Abv: 13.5%. Price: $78. Source: Sample.
Wallis Tasmania Pinot Noir 2016
This wine is completely different in character to the Mornington Peninsula pinot noirs. Its aroma is more obviously fruity, with redcurrant, rhubarb, blueberry and earthy aromatics. The palate has fresher acidity and more tannins than the Peninsula wines, but the fruit is riper and fleshier, but also has a savoury character and good length. A lovely contrast. Rating: Very Good. Abv: 14%. Price: $78. Source: Sample.
Estate Pinot Noir 2016
Pale in colour, this has classic southern Victorian pinot noir aromas of strawberry and cherry. The palate is medium bodied with length and balance. Rating: Good to Very Good. Abv: 14%. Price: $48.
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