Mayer Close Planted Pinot Noir 2017
Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Grape: Pinot Noir
Vineyard Practice: Sustainable
Culinary Suggestions: Duck Confit, Forest Mushroom Risotto, Aged Comté
Alcohol: 13%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Overview
Mayer Wines, established by German-born winemaker Timo Mayer in the Yarra Valley, is a boutique winery known for its bold and experimental approach. After gaining experience in Germany and Australia, Timo settled in the Yarra Valley in the early 2000s, bringing a philosophy of minimal intervention and a commitment to expressing the unique terroir of the region. His vineyard sits on a steep, cool-climate site in the Yarra’s Upper Valley, which lends itself to the production of vibrant, terroir-driven wines.
The winery is particularly renowned for its Pinot Noir and Syrah, though Timo also works with varieties like Chardonnay and Gamay, producing small-batch, handcrafted wines that embrace wild fermentation, whole-bunch pressing, and minimal additives. Mayer’s wines are celebrated for their intense aromatics, texture, and individuality, making them a favourite among wine enthusiasts who appreciate an expressive, natural style.
This Close Planted Pinot Noir comes from the unique terroir of the Yarra Valley’s cool climate. Mayer, renowned for his minimalist approach and dedication to showcasing site-specific expression, has meticulously cultivated this vintage to embody both his distinctive winemaking philosophy and the rich potential of the Yarra landscape. His estate sits atop the southern slopes of the Valley, where steep, densely planted vines endure natural competition, encouraging a profound concentration of flavour in each grape.
The “close planted” method here is key to the wine's intensity and complexity, with vines positioned just 0.8 metres apart, forcing deeper root systems that draw on ancient volcanic soils and mineral-rich clay. Mayer favours a hands-off approach—natural yeasts, low sulphur, and whole-bunch fermentation contribute to this Pinot’s earthy, layered depth. The resulting wine is vibrant yet structured, a carefully balanced marriage of fruit purity and textural finesse.
Critic Reviews
96+ points
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front March 2018
What is left to say about Timo Mayer, aside, he keeps on making outstanding, fascinating, wonderful wines. There’s the howling at moon, baying at the wind, shirt tearing and pant splitting stuff, of course, and his incredible, unique site, but we know all that. This, of all the ‘Mayer’ wines, is only half whole bunch, the rest destemmed, where typically Mayer wines are 100% whole bunch. One thing you could reason, is that Timo’s wines are usually even better in worse years, but 2017, as great a season as it was for Yarra Valley, makes a hash of that rule.
Whiffs of smoke, gravelly-earthy note, dark cherry, mushroomy funk, undergrowth; where the wild things are. Love this fog of scent. Fine boned in the palate, draped in silky-sweet cherry and herbal flavours, rolls on a sheet of glossy acidity, finishes fine, perky, tight and squeaky. It’s a superb pinot noir, detailed, complex, layered and yet compact. Watch this unfurl.
Drink 2018 - 2029