Church Road TOM Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

TOM is the pinnacle of winemaking at Church Road and only ever released in the greatest of vintages.

TOM is Church Road’s tribute to one of New Zealand’s winemaking legends, Tom McDonald. The very best parcels of fruit from their Redstone and Gimblett Gravels vineyards, a meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of the winemaking process, aged for 20 months in French oak, a truly world class example of Bordeaux blend red that’s a fitting tribute to Tom, nicknamed “The Father of red winemaking in New Zealand“.

Tom released NZ’s first commercial Cabernet Sauvignon in 1949, in later years pioneering New Zealand Chardonnay. By the 1960’s his Cabernets were being compared to some of the First Growth wines of Bordeaux. So yep, there’s certainly a bit of pressure when it comes to a release under the TOM label!

There’s a hell of a lot of excitement over this 2019 release with 5 Star rating from Michael Cooper not long after its release in late 2022. Coops said “Typically a wine of great finesse, it is savoury, complex and more akin to a quality Bordeaux than other New World reds. The 2019 vintage (5*) was estate-grown in the Redstone Vineyard, in the Bridge Pa Triangle (86%), and in the Gimblett Vineyard, in the Gimblett Gravels (14*). Matured for over two years in French oak barriques (40% new), it is dark, with a highly fragrant, fresh bouquet of herbs and spices. Full-bodied and very savoury, it has dense, ripe blackcurrant, herb and spice flavours, seasoned with nutty oak, gentle tannins and a smooth finish. A forward vintage, generous and very harmonious, it should be at its best 2025+.”

Each bottle is individually numbered and presented in a stunning Church Road TOM gift box. If you’re a TOM collector, this is the one you’ve been waiting for! If you’re new to TOM, what a way to start! This is a wine they’ll be talking about for years to come.

We’ve secured a small shipment but once it’s gone, it’s gone. Cellar this one up to 2040.