Blank Canvas Reed Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

Blank Canvas Reed Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

 

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Blank Canvas
Reed Vineyard Chardonnay 2023
  • Vintage : 2023
  • Country : New Zealand
  • Region : Marlborough
  • Subregion :
  • Type : White
  • Style : Creamy Full Bodied White
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 13,5°
  • Grappes : 100% Chardonnay

Made exclusively from Clone 95 Chardonnay vines, this wine shows a balance of orchard fruit and bright acidity, characteristic of its unique terroir.

Experts Score Vintage
BC Bob Campbell MW 95 2022
VN Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 93 2022
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

The Reed Vineyard is located at the entrance of Waihopai Valley in Marlborough, New Zealand. Originally planted in 2001, this vineyard features Clone 95 Chardonnay vines grafted onto old Gewurztraminer rootstocks, producing intense, complex flavors due to the deep-rooting and age of the vines. Situated in a cool climate area, the vineyard benefits from cool nights and warm days, which preserve acidity while allowing fruit to ripen fully. These conditions, combined with ancient gravelly soils, support the development of expressive, aromatic Chardonnay.

The Clone 95 chosen for this vineyard is a Burgundian clone known for its low sugar and high flavor concentration, making it especially suited to Marlborough’s terroir. The vines are managed sustainably by Pete and Anne Reed, the vineyard owners, who work closely with the Blank Canvas team to maintain quality and ecological harmony.

Winemaking

This vintage marked the end of a drought cycle, with early rains and a dry summer that encouraged abundant flowering and fruit set. Hand-harvested grapes were whole-bunch pressed to extract pure flavors, with the free-run juice then fermented in 500-liter French oak puncheons (40% new). Fermentation was spontaneous, using ambient yeasts, and the wine underwent malolactic fermentation naturally without interference, enhancing texture and complexity. It was then aged on lees for added depth, with no fining or filtration before bottling.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Pale gold with green highlights.
  • Aroma: Notes of white nectarine, orchard fruit, and subtle oak nuances with hints of honey and grain.
  • Palate: Rich and layered, with flavors of ripe stone fruit and a creamy, honeyed texture, balanced by vibrant acidity and a mineral finish.

Did you know?

The Clone 95 vines for this wine are grafted onto older Gewurztraminer rootstocks, allowing the Chardonnay to develop deep-rooted resilience and complexity, giving the wine a unique depth and expression of the Waihopai Valley’s terroir.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Seared Scallops with Lemon Butter: Complements the wine’s acidity and enhances its stone fruit flavors.
  • Roast Chicken with Thyme: The wine’s texture balances the savory, herbaceous qualities of roasted chicken.
  • Creamy Mushroom Pasta: Earthy flavors mirror the wine’s complex layers and creaminess.
  • Aged Gruyère Cheese: The nutty and rich profile of Gruyère complements the wine’s depth and honeyed finish.

History of Blank Canvas

The history of Blank Canvas is a story of passion, expertise, and a dedication to showcasing New Zealand's distinct wine regions. Matt Thomson began his career in biochemistry before transitioning to winemaking, where his scientific approach to fermentation and yeast greatly influenced his techniques. With over 62 vintages worldwide, Matt has honed his craft and gained a deep understanding of vineyards across both hemispheres. His work as a consultant in Marlborough and other international wine regions has solidified his reputation as a meticulous winemaker.

Sophie Parker-Thomson joined Matt’s journey in 2011, bringing a fresh perspective from her background in law. Her passion for wine grew rapidly, leading her to become a Master of Wine, the first on New Zealand’s South Island to achieve this title. Together, they founded Blank Canvas with the goal of creating wines that are authentic expressions of their terroir, treating each wine as a “blank canvas” to paint with the unique character of the vineyard and vintage.

Region and Vineyards

Blank Canvas sources its grapes from several unique sites across New Zealand, focusing on Marlborough, Central Otago, and Hawke’s Bay. Each region contributes distinct characteristics that define the wines. In Marlborough, the Holdaway Vineyard in Dillons Point produces Sauvignon Blanc with vibrant acidity and layered tropical flavors. This vineyard, located near the coast, benefits from nutrient-rich soils and sustainable practices, including dry farming and organic amendments to preserve soil health.

In Central Otago’s Gibbston Valley, the Anthem Vineyard sits on schist soils, ideal for producing structured, mineral-driven Pinot Noir. The cool climate and rocky terrain yield wines with depth and elegance, showcasing the distinct qualities of the region’s terroir. Hawke’s Bay adds further diversity to Blank Canvas’s range. With sites in the Bridge Pa Triangle and Mangatahi Terraces, Hawke’s Bay’s warmer climate and volcanic soils are perfect for Syrah and Bordeaux-style reds, creating wines with complexity and spice. Each vineyard is managed with sustainability in mind, with a focus on low intervention to allow the natural characteristics of the land to shine through.

Wine Range of Blank Canvas

Blank Canvas’s portfolio includes several distinctive wines that showcase New Zealand’s diverse terroirs:

  • Abstract Three Rows Sauvignon Blanc – A textural Sauvignon Blanc with layers of complexity from Marlborough’s Dillons Point.
  • Holdaway Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc – A vibrant, classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with tropical fruit notes.
  • Settlement Vineyard Pinot Noir – A structured and expressive Pinot Noir from the Omaka Valley in Marlborough.
  • Anthem Vineyard Pinot Noir – A mineral-driven Pinot Noir from the schist soils of Central Otago’s Gibbston Valley.
  • Una Volta Pinot Noir – A limited-edition Pinot Noir from Bannockburn, with depth and elegance.
  • Riesling from Marlborough – A fresh and mineral-driven Riesling with a balance of acidity and fruit.
  • Grüner Veltliner – A unique New Zealand expression of this Austrian variety, showcasing freshness and minerality.
  • Element Syrah – A bold Syrah from Hawke’s Bay, with rich, spicy flavors reflecting the region’s volcanic soils and warm climate.

Each wine in the range reflects Blank Canvas’s focus on terroir, crafted with care to highlight the vineyard's unique characteristics and New Zealand’s diverse wine potential.

Did You Know?

The name Blank Canvas symbolizes Matt and Sophie’s philosophy of allowing each vineyard and vintage to tell its story. This project unites scientific precision with artistic freedom, emphasizing sustainability and minimal intervention.

Bob Campbell MW (BC) : 95 Points (2022)
Weighty, mouth-filling chardonnay with grapefruit, saline/oyster shell, lime zest, nutty yeast lees and a suggestion of sizzled butter. Great without the complication of food but even better with my hot-smoked salmon. 27/9/2023

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) (VN) : 93 Points (2022)
It was not the easiest of seasons to make delicious wine in Marlborough, but you wouldn't guess that if you tasted the 2022 Chardonnay Reed Vineyard. It is a pure and precise style with plenty of personality. There's excellent clarity of fruit here, reflective of the delicate handling. Flinty, salty characteristics of reduction emerge, while smoky bacon notes derive from barrel. Just a little more than light in body, there's weight and creamy texture built through the mid-palate, followed up with a fine, citrusy acid line. There's a lot going on, but the components all come together to provide a clever, layered style with a big, savory finish. Ta-da!

Blank Canvas Abstract Three Rows Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Blank Canvas Abstract Three Rows Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Blank Canvas
Abstract Three Rows Sauvignon Blanc 2020
VN
94
BC
94
This single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, from Dillons Point in Wairau Valley, brings a sophisticated twist with fermentation in seasoned oak for enhanced complexity.
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Blank Canvas Escaroth Pinot Noir 2020
Blank Canvas Escaroth Pinot Noir 2020
Blank Canvas
Escaroth Pinot Noir 2020
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94
BC
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The Blank Canvas Escaroth Pinot Noir is an intense and terroir-driven Marlborough Pinot Noir that embodies the unique climate and dry-farmed vines of Taylor Pass.
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Blank Canvas Holdaway Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023
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Blank Canvas
Holdaway Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023
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92
BC
95
JS
91
The Blank Canvas Holdaway Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc is a vibrant Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with intense aromatics and balanced minerality, crafted from the regenerative Holdaway Vineyard in Dillons Point.
25,90 €
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Blank Canvas Element Syrah 2019
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RP
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The Blank Canvas Element Syrah is a single-vineyard Syrah from Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay, showcasing vibrant fruit with layers of spice and savory complexity.
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Blank Canvas Una Volta Pinot Noir 2020
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BC
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JS
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Crafted in limited quantities, this Pinot Noir from Renaissance Vineyard on Felton Road, Bannockburn, balances fragrant red fruit with a complex structure.
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Blank Canvas Anthem Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019
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Crafted with precision, this Pinot Noir from the Anthem Vineyard reveals a striking balance between red fruit, herbal undertones, and earthy complexity.
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Blank Canvas Settlement Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020
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The Blank Canvas Settlement Vineyard Pinot Noir exemplifies the intensity and finesse of Marlborough’s Omaka Valley, combining ripe fruit with a structured elegance.
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Wine regions guide
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