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Mayer Yarra Valley 2019 release tasting notes

Here are our thoughts on the new totally inspiring wines from Timo Mayer’s 2019 release.  

For those not in the know, Timo Mayer is regarded as one of the greatest and most idiosyncratic Australian winemakers of his generation, especially when it comes to pinot noir, with his wines selling out within weeks of release every year. Timo is based in the Yarra Valley but his origins go back to Germany where he comes from a winemaking family that can trace its vinous history back 400 years.

 “Creativity" is the catchword when it comes to Timo Mayer. But have no fear, he also carries the science in his head to back it up with an oenology degree behind him at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. He started his eponymous label Mayer in 2000 then settled into a day job working as winemaker at the highly respected Gembrook Hills Winery in the Upper Yarra.

The word “funk” is often used to describe some of Timo’s wines as he was one of the first Australian winemakers to utilise "whole bunch fermentation" in his wines which adds an almost Burgundian complexity. Putting his pinots in a decanter for a few hours then into a quality pinot glass and witnessing them slowly emerge into wondrous vinous creations is an experience.  The wines are also unfined and unfiltered. 

They are highly sought after and extremely limited so if you do want to secure your share of 2019 Mayer Yarra Valley Wines, we advise you to jump online line now or call the store. We don’t expect them to last long…

Cheers  

Constantine and the Wine Experience Team 

Mayer Sangiovese 2019, Yarra Valley 12.5%
Another subtle Mayerist beauty here! And one of my favourite wines this year. Blink and you’ll miss it. Vivid fresh cherry fruit with a twist of herbal savouriness, gentle twiggy notes, lively brisk acids and fine shaping fruit tannins. Texture and general flow of the wine across the light to medium weight palate is just so lovely. I can’t remember the last time I tried a Chianti as refined as this. Wonderful, varietal and understated. All class! 

Mayer Nebbiolo 2019, Yarra Valley 13%
Beautiful Australian Nebbiolo with heaps of new world Nebbiolo charm to it. Light to medium bodied showing mostly red berry spectrum fruit with some darker tones tinged with subtle tar, anise and potpourri spice floral lift. Airy and alive with pretty serious tannins building with aeration and defining the lovely lingering finish. Gorgeous. 

Mayer Syrah 2019, Yarra Valley 13% 
Medium bodied. After some air time lovely savoury black cherry and dark plum fruit emerges with black pepper spice and gentle tarry notes building in time countered by a little whole bunch rose petal floral prettiness. Seamless texture. Lovely cool climate refinement and class. 

Mayer Cabernet 2019, Yarra Valley 13% 
Very young still. This a beautiful idiosyncratic 100% whole bunch Yarra cabernet that needs either air or bottle age [as do all these Mayer wines]. There’s a finesse to it matched to purity of expression rarely seen in other wine regions, at least at this price point. Initially shows some forward darker fruit like focussed blackberry. However, with air it seems to tighten with classic cassis, violet, dried herbs and Bordeaux-like graphite building alongside a lattice of stern tannin that maintains control and ensures a long life ahead. If drinking now decant. Beautiful cabernet.  

Mayer Merlot 2019, Yarra Valley 13%
Merlot occasionally gets a bad wrap in Australia and in Hollywood films like Sideways but when a winemaker like Timo gives it some love you instantly know there is more to it. Wonderful copy-cat Bordeaux-like nose [if Bordeaux was 100 §whole bunch fermented] shows dark cherry and plum with graphite, leafy, herbs, stalks and spice. I’m pretty sure this is the best Australian Merlot we’ve tried recently. Certainly the most interesting. Outstanding. 

Mayer Pinot Noir 2019, Yarra Valley 13%
Subtle whimsical whiffs of dark and fresh red cherries and dried herbs with some autumnal earthen spice notes ushers in an elegant palate of uprightness and wonderful silken texture. Very young and screams out for more time for it to shed some of its youthful dark puppy fat and to build more pinosity. But it will come. Be sure if drinking now to decant very well. It spreads its wings the more air you give it.  

Mayer Dr Mayer Pinot Noir 2019, Yarra Valley 13.5% 
The Mayerist theme of finesse and delicacy is continued in the pinots with this lovely 100% whole bunch example. There’s an extra degree of subtlety and mystery in this with the stalks and whole bunch adding prettiness, structure and gentle complexity to the delicious light to mid weight cherry infused palate. Mouthfeel is beautiful, acidity firm and tannins are pretty serious too. Again if drinking now decant extremely well. The best is yet to come.