2017 Marlborough Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
With just 10% new French oak, the intense pineapple and citrus flavors of Novum's Mendoza clone 2017 Chardonnay really shine through, bursting through the subtle notes of toasted grain and custardy lees and blazing a tight, focused trail right down the center of the medium-bodied palate, finishing long and lemony.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Dusty but deep citrus fruit. Very ripe, almost apricot fruit on the palate. Rounded and generous and not particularly oaky, just a touch of spice on the finish and very good freshness. (JH)
Small-scale personal production from Fromm winemaker William Hoare and Rachel Jackson-Hoare (good background detail on winenaorak.com ). Very smart packaging with a waxed seal and elegant minimal script on the label. (Seems amazing that Novum had not been used before by a winery.) See novumwines.co.nz from which they sell direct. Unnecessarily heavy bottle is clearly designed to make a statement. Very smart nose fully vindicates my enthusiasm for NZ Chardonnay. If only all white burgundy smelt this clean and compelling. Crystalline fruit. Good, medium weight of pure fruit that's already intense but promises much more in the future. Long and complex. No playing around with reduction. A very beautiful wine. (JR)