Down The Hill vs Up The Hill? What gives?

So Ten Minutes By Tractor’s Mornington Peninsula cellar door, spiritual home and original vineyards are ‘up the hill’, with an address at Main Ridge (which really is at the higher part of the Peninsula). But the Coolart Road Vineyard. located closer to Hastings (the lower, eastern side of the Peninsula), is now home to both the largest single estate vineyard and where the winemaking happens.

Rather than change the character of the estate Pinot Noir, the team split the wine into two – one up, one down. This Ten Minutes By Tractor Down The Hill Estate Pinot Noir 2021 comes exclusively from the lower vineyards. Serious Mornington Pinot it is too. Sappy, firm and angular, despite the core of red fruit. Shy, surprisingly acidic and mouthwatering too. Perfect ripeness, however.

There’s a detail here that is unquestionably smart, and I actually like it more than some of the less open single vineyard wines. Maybe a little too drying (hello stem tannins), but the mushroom-edged red fruit palate is classic and classy Mornington Pinot.

Best drinking: now and for the next five years. 18/20, 93/100. 13%, $54. Ten Minutes By Tractor website. Would I buy it? Sure would.