Timo Mayer

Brand Description

A hip little winery in the Yarra Valley messing around with 100% wholebunch.

Timo Mayer grew up in Germany, where his family have been making wine for over 400 years. He moved to Australia and studied winemaking at Wagga Wagga, before working at De Bortoli and Gembrook in the Yarra Valley and establishing Mayer Wines in 2000. Having made his name with elegant, innovative Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, he’s recently started experimenting with varieties like Nebbiolo and Gamay, and continues to lead the charge for elegant, complex wines that reflect the Yarra Valley’s cool climate.

 

Location of Vineyard

Timo and his wife, Rhonda, planted a 2.4 hectare vineyard on a slope, which they named Bloody Hill ‘because it was bloody steep!’. Ideally located in the center of the Yarra Valley.

Winemaking and Viticulture Philosophy

Bring back the funk!

Timo Mayer is a hip little winery that produces hand crafted, single vineyard wines. They believe that wines are made in the vineyard and therefore try to interfere with the natural winemaking process as little as possible. All of their wines are unfined and unfiltered to reflect the true expression of the land.

 

Brand Summary

Vineyard Image of Bloody Hill, with the name imprinted on the lawn of the vineyard
Photo of Timo and Rhonda in the Vineyard
Photo of Timo in the Vineyard
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Winery Profile
Owner: Timo Mayer
Winemaker: Timo Mayer
Total acreage under vine: 7
Founded: 1999
Production: 2500 Cases
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Acclaim
“Estate-grown fruit, 20–25% whole bunches, matured in 20% new hogsheads. A bright crimson ruby. Scented with ripe raspberries, black cherry, star anise and just a little rosewater. On the palate, this is ripe without being heavy or rich, with bright acidity and well-handled, whole-bunch, savoury tannins. A delicious wine for hedonists and intellectuals alike.” — acclaim for 2023 Mayer Pinot Noir from James Halliday, Aug 2024
“Cabernet from a north-facing slope on Hans and Anna Orth's vineyard in Coldstream. 100% whole bunches, matured in hogsheads (10% new). A bit darker and denser than last year's wine but equally elegant and perfumed with its scents of blackcurrant, cherry, blackberry leaf and violets. Medium bodied with balanced, mouthcoating yet fine tannins. A lovely wine, more reminiscent of great cabernet franc than sauvignon.” — acclaim for 2023 Mayer Cabernet from James Halliday, Aug 2024
“Estate-grown fruit, 100% whole bunches and matured in seasoned hogsheads. Is this the best and most consistent wine in the Mayer range? Probably. Its gorgeous with dark plum skins, black cherry, graphite, white pepper, a touch of freshly ground coffee beans and incense. As Ani DiFranco sang in the 1990s, 'I could do a lot of things ... and I do.' There's just as much happening on the rich, heady but beautifully balanced palate. It's so, so drinkable now, but know that this will age superbly, too.” — acclaim for 2023 Mayer Syrah from James Halliday, Aug 2024
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