2021 Mayer Close Planted Pinot Noir

German born Timo Mayer, along with partner Rhonda Ferguson established Mayer in 1999, on the slopes of Mt Toolebewong, between Healesville & Woori Yallock. They produce a small range of hand crafted, single vineyard wines, believing that wines are made in the vineyard and not the winery. All wines are unfined and unfiltered to show the true expression of the vineyard. Vines are often close-planted, and winemaking frequently utilises a generous use of whole bunch.

When Timo cheered "bring back the funk!", it was this wine that originally delivered on the promise. He's since released the Dr expression which dials up this ethos even further, but his Close Planted Pinot still holds a special place in many Pinot lover's hearts. Wonderfully aromatic and silky, the power of the Pinot fruit can be deceptive here, but there's no mistaking this is one of the Yarra Valley's finest wines each year.

Other Reviews....
“Beautiful weather, a farmer’s dream for growing grapes, everything stayed green through summer, looks like Malaga in Spain on the hill now, but 2021 was lots of healthy grapes”, says Timo Mayer, “happy days”. This is not the 100% whole bunch one, this is the destemmed one (well, 30% whole bunch).
Beautiful perfume, red cherry, cranberry, pretty rose petal characters, some sweet spice, a lift of something faintly minty. Yes. Succulent and supple, red fruited flavours, a crispness, cool, blood orange acidity in the sluice of red cherry and faint herbal and white pepper notes. Whoowee. A fine wine this. Drink 2022 - 2030.
94 Points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front (February 2022)

Estate grown, 30% whole bunches and 15% new oak. A light, bright crimson red. Gorgeously perfumed with aromas of raspberries, wild strawberries (and I've tasted these for the record!) and delicate rose petals. Light–medium bodied, this has both delicacy and depth with its red cherry fruit and a gentle savoury edge. It's quite tightly wound and I can see this becoming more complex and filling out over the next 5 or so years. Drink by 2028.
95 Points
Philip Rich - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion (January 2022)