Mayer Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Yarra Valley

Timo Mayer left his native Germany for the Yarra Valley years ago, where he organically farms a 2.5 hectare plot called Bloody Hill, because itÕs bloody steep. From here, and a couple of other single vineyard sites, he produces hand-crafted wines which favour elegance and purity over muscle and showiness. His signature is the use of whole-bunches during fermentation, increasing complexity and giving silkier tannins and freshness, his are some of AustraliaÕs best Pinot Noirs. He likes to refer to himself as just a farmer, but to us heÕs pretty legendary, and those who have met him agree. Timo sources his Cabernet from Yering, which is slightly warmer than his Bloody Hill vineyard. The wine is whole-bunch fermented with wild yeasts. Spicy and stalky, it has the classic black and red berry notes of Cabernet with a perfumed freshness that we think resembles the stellar wines of Nick and Gary of By Farr in Geelong.