2021 Church Road Tom Chardonnay

Richard Caro

In stock

Another superb release of tis icon New Zealand Chardonnay. Elegant and complex with impressive precision, this vintage was sourced entirely from the elevated and coastal Tuki tuki vineyard. A finely textured yet fuller-bodied Chardonnay of exceptional character, depth and longevity -- this is a benchmark NZ Chardonnay and its availability is highly limited.

$150.00 in mixed 6+ or $167.00 per bottle

Overview

Grape

Chardonnay

Its Origins

Dating from 1897, when Bartholomew Steinmetz planted his vineyard next to Church Road, it is now one of the oldest wineries in the country. Steinmetz returned to his native Luxembourg in the 1920s, leaving his winery in the hands of the 19-year-old Tom McDonald, who had been working for him since his early teens. McDonald later bought the winery and set to making the first quality red wines in New Zealand, releasing the country's first commercial Cabernet Sauvignon in 1949. Quality steadily increased and by the 1960s New Zealand's wine connoisseurs snapped up McDonald's red wines year after year. Current winemaker Chris Scott came up through the ranks first as a cellar hand and vineyard worker and eventually, after a few vintages elsewhere, to winemaker. The “Tom” wines are a tribute to McDonald, only produced in exceptional vintages.

What The Critics Say

96/100 Bob Campbell MW (2020 vintage)

"Flagship chardonnay that is a blend of grapes from the Terraces Vineyard (59%) and Tuki Tuki Vineyard. Intense, weighty chardonnay with peach, citrus, roasted chestnut, struck-flint and spicy oak flavours. A bold, complex wine with obvious cellaring potential 27 DEC 2021."

96/100 Decanter, Cameron Douglas MS (2020 vintage)

"Scents of ripe citrus and fresh California peach, quince and vanilla, yoghurt, apple and barrel spice. A lees, mineral and gunflint combination emerges, adding layers of detail. Youthful energy, warm and generous with a coarse-silk texture contrasted by palate weight, stone and citrus fruit flavours, grapefruit and baked apple. The oak layer will soften into the wine as it ages and develops. Delicious."

Stats & Food Matching

Variety	Chardonnay
Region	Hawkes Bay
Closure	Cap
Volume	750 ml
Maturity	2022 - 2030

This Wine Goes Well With

Taste

Delivery & Returns

We deliver throughout New Zealand and to some locations overseas. Our deliveries are made by trusted third party carriers. For further details on prices and delivery options please go to DELIVERY INFORMATION section of our site.

If for any reason you are not entirely happy with your order or you suspect that they may be affected by a quality issue, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will remedy the problem straight away. Contact us on 0800 422 767.

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