2023 Blank Canvas Reed Chardonnay, Marlborough

Rebecca Gibb MW | Vinous Media

 Blank Canvas Reed Chardonnay from Marlborough is the delicious brainchild of winemaking duo Matt Thomson and Sophie Parker-Thomson MW. This pair is like the Batman and Robin of New Zealand winemaking, swooping in to save us from boring, one-size-fits-all wines. With Matt’s decades of winemaking experience (a man who’s been there, done that, and probably fermented it) and Sophie’s Master of Wine smarts (think wine genius with a cape), Blank Canvas is all about crafting small-batch, super expressive wines that make your taste buds do a happy dance.

The Reed Vineyard, the magical spot behind this Chardonnay, sits in the cooler Southern Valleys of Marlborough. With soils so low-vigor they make lazy seem productive, the vineyard gives the Chardonnay its zippy acidity and sleek minerality. Blank Canvas likes to keep things simple – minimal intervention, letting nature and the vineyard’s personality take center stage, and ensuring the wine tells its own story, without unnecessary special effects.

Expect this Chardonnay to flirt with your senses, offering up citrus and peach aromas with a cheeky wink of flint and toasty oak. On the palate, it's a fun mix of lemon curd, ripe stone fruits, and a creamy texture that’s as smooth as a jazz saxophone solo. Perfect for pairing with seafood, chicken, or even that fancy pasta dish you didn’t think you could pull off.