Novum Chardonnay 2024 by Novum Wines from Marlborough’s Riverbrook Vineyard is a thrilling, Burgundian‑leaning chardy – all flinty reduction, precision and serious palate weight wrapped around pristine Marlborough fruit. This 2024 Novum Riverbrook Chardonnay opens with white peach, nectarine and citrus blossom, layered over lemon curd, roasted cashew, struck flint, grilled hazelnut and a touch of smoky gun‑barrel spice.

On the palate it’s linear yet powerful – grapefruit and stone fruit sit in a tight, saline frame with green apple crunch, nuts, praline and waxy, phenolic texture through the mid‑palate. Wild‑yeast barrel ferment and long lees ageing deliver a mealy, savoury depth, while bright acidity and schist‑like minerality drive a long, chiselled finish that will evolve beautifully over 8–10 years.

I’d be lining Novum Chardonnay 2024 up with roast chicken, pork loin, crayfish, scallops or rich mushroom and pumpkin dishes where that flinty, nutty structure can really shine. Individually wax‑dipped and very limited, it’s a must‑buy for chardonnay lovers chasing top‑shelf, terroir‑driven Marlborough with a clear nod to modern white Burgundy.