Bloody Hill Villages Rose 2023

Producer Profile

Whenever I hear that a wine is ‘easy drinking’, I wonder when drinking wine became such hard work. The Bloody Hill range is a reference to the steepness of the slope that encompasses the Mayer vineyard. Curiously, however, the fruit is not from the Mayer vineyard, but sourced from the surrounds and carrying the name ‘Villages’ indicates that there may be more than one fruit source which will vary, vintage to vintage.

Stylistically, they are quite different to the Mayer or Volcanic ranges. Firstly the grapes are entirely destemmed and the whites tend to be a nod to more classical styles. Although built for earlier drinking, they would be a waste of a good drink, it they were simply easy. The whites carry a good deal of mid palate stuffing and dry extract, whilst the reds have the necessary tannic heft, to ensure some lovely tension between sweet fruit and tertiary elements.

Rivar Mayer has taken over winemaking and it’s clear that he’s both the master of classical and contemporary Yarra Valley. The Bloody Hill range is more than just easy drinking. These are serious, versatile, affordable, excellent wines. If the Mayer style is synonymous with controversy and of a wine style not suited to everyone, the Bloody Hill range is a second to none introduction to the wines of the Yarra Valley.