2025 Novum Rose, Marlborough
$31.99
93 points – Shanteh Wale, Halliday Wine Companion
This is strawberry guava, alpine strawberries and the purity of running river streams. Chalk soils, Pink Lady apple and rose petals. What more do you want, bone dry? Well yes, it ticks that box, too. There is also the creaminess of peach trifle and a berry pulp finish. Full of finesse and long lines of salivating acidity to keep you coming back for more; my advice is to buy a lot more than you think you need.
This is a serious Rosé.
So often a Rosé is made from excess/or lack lustre fruit that has come from an over cropped vineyard. Novum Rosé is the antithesis of this. Every part of this wine has been carefully considered to make not only the best Rosé but also to illustrate a sense of place.
In Appearance : a captivating translucent soft pink hue.
On the Nose : Delicately scented, with appealing bright wild berry, white stone fruit and hints of spice on the nose.
On the Palate : The wine shows complexity on the palate. Initially fresh and vibrant, with white peach, spice, raspberry flavours, it is deliciously juicy through the mid-palate, well-balanced with some textural weight, followed by a long, lively, lingering finish.
Novum
Brainchild of Will and Rachel Hoare, Novum is a boutique Marlborough project defined by single-site precision, low intervention, and a clear-eyed vision of varietal clarity.
Will’s family were among Marlborough’s very first contract grape growers and still own around 40-hectares of vineyards on land purchased in 1978.
Novum focuses on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah from carefully chosen single sites rather than mass-produced blends. The label’s name comes from the Latin “novum,” meaning “new,” reflecting a modern, detail‑driven approach to classic varieties.
Novum Wines leave a lasting impression — distilled, articulate, and shaped by intent rather than expectation.
