The Coolart Road ‘F Block’ Pinot Noir 2023 is the most ethereal and lifted expression from Ten Minutes by Tractor’s Coolart Road vineyard. Sitting at the top of the east-facing slope, F Block consistently produces the finer, more floral parcels of Pinot Noir on the property, shaped by elevation, exposure to morning light, and its carefully curated clonal mix of MV6 (60%), 777 (20%), and 115 (20%).
The 2023 season delivered higher-than-average rainfall during flowering, lowering yields but extending hang time. The result is fruit with greater intensity, purity, and drive, translating into one of the most aromatic and precise Coolart Road bottlings to date.
Winemaking
All parcels were handpicked (20–23 March), hand-sorted, and destemmed. Fermentation took place in small 1-ton stainless steel fermenters, allowing each parcel to be vinified separately for purity and detail.
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Cold soak: 4–5 days
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Wild fermentation
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Time on skins: Avg. 14 days
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Maturation: 11 months in French barriques (20% new)
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Malolactic: Natural, in barrel
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Bottled: February 2024, screwcap
This minimalist, small-batch approach retains the delicate floral aromatics and poised structure that define F Block.
Tasting Note
The wine opens with ethereal florals—rose, violet, and wild herbs—floating above a core of black cherry, strawberry leather, and sweet liquorice. On the palate it shows remarkable precision, where vibrant red-fruit energy meets fine, ballet-slipper tannins, creating a harmony of power and grace.
A whisper of petrichor, Sichuan pepper, and five spice adds complexity, leading to a long, textural, and beautifully perfumed finish.
Small-Batch Detail
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Region: Mornington Peninsula
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Vineyard: Coolart Road – F Block
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Clones: MV6 (60%), 777 (20%), 115 (20%)
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Elevation & Aspect: Upper slope, east-facing
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Yield: 2 t/ha
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Fermentation: 4–5 day cold soak, wild yeast, 14 days on skins
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Oak: 11 months French barriques (20% new)
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Alcohol: 13.0%
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TA / pH: 5.8 g/L – 3.57
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Residual sugar: 0.0 g/L (dry)
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Best drinking: 2025–2039
Expert Review
⭐ 18/20 – Tamlyn Currin, Jancis Robinson
“So peppery and so floral—almost floating above the glass, yet stunning intensity on the palate.
Membrillo, strawberry leather, Sichuan pepper and five spice. A whisper of petrichor.
Ballet-slipper tannins. Strength and grace.
The soprano of the Coolart Road wines. Liquid Maria Callas.
2025–2040.”
Fine Pinot Note
The 2023 F Block Pinot Noir is the most perfumed, lifted, and texturally refined wine from the Coolart Road vineyard. It balances delicacy with drive, offering a beautifully sculpted expression of Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir. A standout release for collectors of elegant, floral, and site-transparent styles.
