2016 Ten Minutes By Tractor 10X6 Chardonnay Mornington Peninsula 750 ml

Getting Lucky in Mornington

When one door closes another opens, and today the door opening is into the cellars of top Australian Chardonnay producer, Ten Minutes by Tractor. Normally, their estate bottlings (like this gorgeous, 2016 10X Chardonnay) go for $50 or more, but their importer is closing up shop—so we snagged the last 20 cases of this jewel for Wine Access members at half the standard price.

Bottled in tiny quantities, boasting layers of ripe peach, kumquat, and nectarine buoyed by mouthwatering grapefruit zest, Chardonnay like this would normally sport a much higher price tag—the only other listing in the country is almost twice the price—and the 2016 10X Chardonnay deserves it. Magically, this Australian white marries Sonoma-style sunshine with saline minerality and finesse that screams of Burgundy.

Lovers of balanced, well-crafted white wines, today is your day.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has heaped praise on Ten Minutes by Tractor, calling their wines “skillfully and naturally crafted.” Decanter added the Mornington Peninsula region responsible for this tropically-scented white is “a cherished source of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for those in the know.” Consider this your invitation to get in the know, without the standard cost of entry.

Ten Minutes by Tractor takes its name from its original three vineyards, which are all ten minutes away by tractor. The name is a testament to the pace of life and winemaking in the Mornington Peninsula, where the chilly maritime climate is bathed in sunshine that creates a perfect micro-climate for effusive, aromatic Chardonnays.

Established in 1997 and purchased in 2003 by Martin Spedding and his wife Karen, Ten Minutes by Tractor is turning out some of the top Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs in Australia. Spedding never rushes the grapes, and approaches each vintage with care and attention to detail. Today, the estate covers almost 90 acres, including the region’s first certified vineyard.

Spedding’s luxurious 2016 10X Chardonnay is the product of impeccable, estate-grown fruit, and a warm, early growing season. The wine dazzles with richness and ripeness from the vintage’s warmth while maintaining the region’s firm, mouthwatering acids. Tropical fruits blend seamlessly with stone fruit—pineapple, white peach, kumquat and nectarine—with etchings of light toast, nougat, and a hint of vanilla. The result is generous and approachable offering delicious fruit and freshness from the nose to the lengthy finish.

Normally, we’d have no problem shelling out $40+ for a wine of this much class and pedigree. It just so happens that today we don’t have to, and neither do you. Thanks to a special deal negotiated with an importer who will shortly be closing its doors, we are able to offer this cool-climate stunner at an unbeatable price. We’re stocking up.