Church Road TOM Syrah

Only the fourth ever release of a Syrah under Church Road’s iconic TOM series from the 2019 Hawke’s Bay vintage.

TOM is the pinnacle of winemaking at Church Road and only ever released in the very best of vintages. It’s their tribute to one of New Zealand’s winemaking legends, Tom McDonald. The very best parcels of fruit from their Redstone and Bridge Pa Triangle vineyards, a meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of the winemaking process, aged for 22 months in oak, a truly world class example of Syrah that’s a fitting tribute to Tom, nicknamed “The Father of red winemaking in New Zealand“.

Tom, back in his winemaking days, never actually made a Syrah but Church Road’s chief winemaker Chris Scott simply couldn’t turn down the chance to craft one under their flagship series. In fact, he may have even got in trouble for making one before the bean counters gave him the thumbs up!

But as Chris put it, “As a man who was always looking forward and challenging the potential of our region, we think he’d approve.”

They’ve got every right to be chuffed to bits with this 2019 release! Awarded 97/100 by Bob Campbell, Bob calls it “Church Road’s flagship syrah looks the part with a heavyweight bottle and wax capsule. Take care when you cut the capsule. Deep, almost syrupy red with plum, dark berry, dark chocolate, liquorice, black pepper, dried herbs and spicy oak flavours. A dense, long-lived and generously proportioned wine“

Each bottle is individually numbered and presented in a stunning Church Road TOM gift box. It’s a true collector’s item and if you can tuck it away in the cellar for the long term and resist busting it out to show off to your wine buff mates, you’ll be rewarded. Cellar until 2033.