Ten Minutes by Tractor Estate Chardonnay 2016 (Case of 6 x 75 cl)

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. And what a journey it has been! Along with a trusty team and his loving family, he has overseen the rise of the estate to the cult status it holds today. In 2016 Sandro Mosele (ex-Kooyong and Port Philip Estates) joined the team as head winemaker, only adding to their "force to be reckoned with" status. Now a blend of four vineyards, the Estate Chardonnay takes a different tack this year, the vintage warmth delivering a wine that has more width and volume. There's an extra edge of white chocolate on the nose this year too, though backed with a more traditional white peach and nectarine that is the Ten Minutes by Tractor trademark. Underneath, it's a broadly proportioned wine with a notable depth of flavour - a more full-throttle Estate Chardonnay - though with plenty of acidity to carry off the style.