Tom is a graduate of the Clive Coates Burgundy School, as well as the Jim Clendenen University of Pinot Noir (ha!). He belongs to the Commanderie de Bordeaux, the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, and the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne.
In addition, Tom makes two wines with Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat. One is a Bordeaux blend called Black by Black, and the second is White by Black, made from Semillon. These wines are not sold to the public, and are only available through charity wine auctions.
With a cellar at one time consisting of over 60,000 bottles, Tom has formed one of the largest and most well-rounded collections of the great wines of the world in the United States. The cellar has strong verticals of Beringer, Heitz Cellars, Stag's Leap, Opus One, and Caymus, with many other wineries represented. Among Bordeaux wines, Tom's cellar is especially strong in Chateau Latour and Petrus, Cheval Blanc and other first growths. From Burgundy Tom prefers Rousseau, Roumier, DRC and Jadot. Equally strong is his champagne collection featuring Taittinger, Salon, Dom Ruinart and Krug. Not to be forgotten are Italian wines from Conterno, Gaja, Mascarello and Frescobaldi.
Tom will be the first to tell you, Wine is the new Black.
It really does go with everything!
