The 2012 vintage seems to have confirmed what I already suspected. Timo Mayer is the best maker of Pinot in the Yarra Valley if not Australia. This is a tour de force when it comes to Australian Pinot Noir. I’ve not tasted better. The vines are planted at double the density of elsewhere in the vineyard. 40% whole bunch and 30% new oak.
Perfumed, earthen and funky. Purple florals, a depth of red fruit, ensconced acidity, pepper and stony yet soft and supple tannin; exquisite. A little anise too. Persistence is off the charts. As with all these Mayer Pinots, it’s light to medium bodied yet extremely intense. A suggestion of plummy depth and some dried herbs to see it out. Stunning. 97 Exceptional
Region: Yarra Valley
Alcohol: 13.0%
Closure: Diam
Price: $55
Tasted: April 2013
kudos for making a big statement. too few do. very keen to try these wines.
I sat with the 3 Pinots for two days and they never ceased to amaze me over all that time. Very special wines, hope you get to try them soon.
A friend opened a bottle of this for me to try & I was blown away.
Lovely freshness, red fruits, spice & texture – I was thinking of something like a Gevrey-Chambertin.
So what does one do?
I contacted Timo & ordered some of this & his other pinots.
We went out to pick up the wine at Timo’s Bloody Hill & had a look around. What a fantastic view over the valley.
He is clearly very passionate about what he is doing & is a very engaging & funny guy to boot.
He opened a bottle of the 2011 close planted for us to try – it was quite different to the 2012 because of the vintage, but was fragrant & very drinkable.
Certainly one of the best 2011 YV pinots I have tried.
As a parting gift he gave us each a bottle of his 2011 Big Betty Shiraz, describing it as a “freak show”. I’ll have to wait until I open the bottle to know exactly what he means!
Thanks Timo – keep up the great work!
He is hilarious. Laid back, honest and naturally adept when it comes to making you feel at ease. I very much enjoyed sharing a couple of Americanos with him at the Healesville Hotel last Friday arvo. He was bang on the money as a panel chair for the Shiraz/Syrah tasting earlier that week as well. It’s guys like Timo (and thankfully he’s not the only one) that make the wine industry special.
Please, please tell me you have a sample of the 2013 to taste… I’m keen to hear your thoughts (but I’ll happily buy anyway).
Simon
Got in touch with Timo last night and this will be on its way next week Simon.
Good news…one of my most anticipated wines of the year! Simon