Up the Hill Pinot Noir 2021

Located on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, the Ten Minutes by Tractor vineyard benefits from a cool, maritime climate ideal for the finesse of Pinot Noir. The Up the Hill cuvée comes from higher-altitude parcels planted on well-drained slopes with clay and silt soils mixed with ancient rocks. The proximity of the ocean moderates the summer heat and extends the ripening of the grapes, resulting in a precise and elegant expression of the terroir. This rolling landscape lends this wine its taut and subtle character.

The Pinot Noir grapes for the 2021 Up the Hill vintage are hand-harvested, sorted, and destemmed before undergoing cold pre-fermentation maceration. Fermentation takes place in open vats with indigenous yeasts and gentle punch-downs to extract color and fine tannins. After racking and delicate pressing, the wine is transferred to French oak barrels for extended aging, with a limited proportion of new oak to preserve the fruit and expression of the terroir, before bottling without excessive filtration.

This wine reveals notes of black cherry , crisp raspberry , and plum , supported by floral touches reminiscent of peony and violet, followed by spicy nuances of sweet pepper and clove. Subtle oak contributes accents of cedar and vanilla , with a slightly earthy and mineral dimension. On the palate, the texture is silky, carried by fresh acidity, fine and well-integrated tannins, and a long, elegant, and flavorful finish.

Australia began producing wine more than two centuries ago. This has resulted in a country rich in old vines, multigenerational winemaking families, and a deep-rooted knowledge and respect for craftsmanship. Add to this a thirst for exploration and innovation, a fearless attitude, and a diverse portfolio of 65 wine regions across a wide range of climates, and you have the makings of an extraordinary wine nation. Australia burst onto the export scene in the 1980s and has since been offering the world vibrant, fruity, and exceptionally good-value wines. Until the late 1990s and early 2000s, the history of Australian wine was dominated by examples of Shiraz, Grenache, and overly concentrated red blends. Between these two extremes lies the diverse range of high-quality Australian wines and regional wines that has always existed. Australian viticulture is concentrated primarily along the southern coastline where conditions are cooler. There are four main wine regions, each centered around major cities: Western Australia around Perth, South Australia around Adelaide, Victoria around Melbourne, and New South Wales around Sydney. The country is one of the world's largest wine producers and was the fourth-largest exporter in 2011. This recent development has made Australia one of the most prominent countries for the quality of its wines. You can taste Australian wines throughout the country. Each Australian region has its own grape varieties. Australian wines are defined by their grape variety, unlike French wines, which are defined by their terroir.