“Made only in exceptional vintages, Our TOM wines are dedicated to the memory of Tom McDonald, a visionary Hawke’s Bay winemaker who was one of the most influential pioneers of New Zealand’s quality focused wine renaissance. Simply put, these are our best wines. No effort is spared. They represent the culmination of the collective experience and understanding of our team past and present, applied to some of the best parcels of winegrowing land in Hawke’s Bay.” - Chris Scott, Chief Winemaker
Vineyard - Bridge Pa Triangle Wine Growing District, Redstone Vineyard, Hawke's Bay.
A wine of great depth, the fruit expresses as ripe berry and black plum, with top notes of violets, lavender, liquorice and anise. The vibrant fruit has leant a more serious, brooding nature by darker complexities of warm earth, new leather, cedar, cacao and savoury roasted notes along with an underlying ferrous minerality typical of this vineyard. The palate is fine, full and long with a silky tannin structure giving an overall impression of elegance, completeness and restrained power.
99 Points– Sam Kim – Wine Orbit 2023 “A spectacular rendition of the variety, showing blackberry, sweet plum, warm spice, violet and toasted nut aromas on the nose. It’s opulent and sumptuous, yet with refinement and finesse, delivering terrific power and drive through the palate, finishing impressively long and plush. Tannins are finely polished and in abundance, framing the wine seamlessly, leading to a persistent structured finish. From Redstone Vineyard in the Bridge Pa Triangle district. At its best: 2026 to 2046.”
96 Points - David Walker Bell – Winefolio 2023 – “For the first time, this Tom Syrah isn’t a blend from across the best vineyards and parcels – but a single vineyard wine from The Bridge Pa ‘Redstone’ Vineyard – the same as the ‘1’ series Syrah. A dense, inkily dark red in the glass. Perfumed with red berries, dark chocolate, kirsch, cinnamon, coffee bean, garrigue, blueberry and lifted aromas of lavender and lilac florals. Freshness and fragrance over a tight and structured core, and warmth, through the heart of the palate. That rich and fleshy fruit sits across the palate, alongside a chinotto-like bitters element. Buoyant, energetic acidity. Fine, chalky tannins nestle amongst an earthy, stony minerality. In short – the balance is superb. Towards the finish, a creamy layers of texture drifts across and slows things down, in readiness for the next sip. A seamless, lengthy finish.”
95 Points - Rebecca Gibb MW - Vinous.com 2024 –“The 2021 Syrah Tom, named after one of Hawke's Bay pioneers, Tom McDonald, is dark, deep and brooding. Rich in substance and structure, this isn't a wine you want to crack open and quaff on a weeknight. It is dense, sinewy and dark as a night in a forest. Its length is long, and on the finish, you'll discover its blackberry and raspberry scents, cedar notes and the festive spice of long barrel maturation. It requires a spot in a cellar where it can evolve and unfurl its mysteries.”
95 Points - Cameron Douglas MS 2023 – “An enticing bouquet of flowers red berry fruit and spices. There’s a soil signature and layers of oak spices, raspberry and fresh red plum, crushed stones and dry clay then a sweet nut scent. Youthful and complex. Delicious on the palate, fragrant and satin textured, a core of ripe red fruit flavours that reflect the bouquet, an abundance of finely textured almost powdery tannins, a back bone of acidity and overall excellent structure. Spices from fruit and barrel weave through the core fruit flavours adding highlights and power. Dry on the finish, complex and perfectly weighted. A complete wine that will age and develop given the time to do so.”
95 Points - Bob Campbell MW - The Real Review – “Surprisingly accessible Syrah with a subtly sweet, soft and seductive texture. Aromatic wine with floral and ripe cherry, red-fleshed plum together with a seasoning of spices including black pepper, anise and five spice. Elegant rather than blockbuster.”
