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Buy OnlineWe often see new releases and labels that 'fly under the radar'. Small production wines that deserve special mention but not made in volumes that we can shout about. Novum is the new label for William Hoare (ex-Fromm) and Rachel Jackson-Hoare in Marlborough utilizing fruit from family and closely associated vineyards. Two wines have been released so far – this Pinot Noir and a Chardonnay. Both are exceptional wines, but very, very limited in availability.
Winery notes (2024 Vintage)
"Medium dark ruby with youthful purple hue. The nose shows classic red fruits and florals with a background of spice and warm cedar. Cranberry and sweet cherry notes combine with leather and dark chocolate. The palate has a warm fruit entry; a fine tannin structure, savoury and herb notes and hints of pomegranate juice which together combine to give character. The acidity is balanced and the wine carries to a soft, lingering, nuanced finish. This is a poised, elegant and layered Pinot Noir with dark-red berry fruit, florals and herbs wrapping a fine structured core.
With our Pinot Noir fruit we are driven to make a wine that has great ‘pinosity’. By that we mean a wine that is heavily nuanced, fragment and even pretty. This extends to the way we guide the fruit through the winery. Hand-harvested. Once de-stemmed (15 % whole bunch this year), the grapes were put into open-top fermenters where they sit on skins (about 5 days) prior to starting off a wild yeast fermentation, then pumped over lightly once a day during active ferment. After 35-plus days on skins the wine is pressed using a traditional old basket press, racked and transferred to French oak barriques (20% new oak). The wine is aged in barrel for 12 months with the final wine being blended in February. Bottled March 2025."
Reviews for the 2023 vintage below…
95/100 Shanteh Wale, James Halliday's Wine Companion Australia, February 2025 (2023 Vintage)
"Alluring red cherries, fig hearts and lingonberry jam. Fallen autumn leaves and raw cacao beans. A smattering of orange bitters and apple skin. Densely packed, powdery tannins stand tall amongst the freshness of crunchy acidity. There is a pumice stone mineral quality and plenty of length and line. This is only beginning to hit its straps and will cellar well for another few years."
95/100 Jamie Goode, WineAnorak.com, August 2025 (2023 Vintage)
"Fresh and vivid with nice cherry and spice aromatics. The palate is supple and elegant with good structure and nice acidity. This is still youthful, with lots of potential, and it’s really expressive."
