2023 Blank Canvas Upton Downs Pinot Noir, Marlborough

Bright ruby. A distinctive nose of tomato stalk, flint smoke and pomace suggesting whole bunch and/or site expression. With persistent coaxing, measured vanilla and cinnamon oak rises to the fore, followed by sweet roses, bramble and wild raspberry. The light-weight palate is equally restrained, tightly framed by sleek, coffee-ish tannins and driving acidity which facilitates incredible length, eventually revealing a crystalline heart of red, floral fruit. Despite its reticence and deceptively quiet expression, this is undeniably classy, elegant and intricate. It just needs time to unfold. Drink to 2037.

95 points Stephen Wong for The Real Review, August 2025

The 2023 Upton Downs Vineyard Pinot Noir is light in the glass and leads with spiced strawberry, star anise, freshly grated nutmeg, red apple skins and pomegranate molasses. The tannins in the mouth are spicy and layered with coffee grounds, blood orange and exotic spices. This is very fine in the glass but has all the hallmarks of a wine that will age extraordinarily well. It's fresh, lacy and fine. Drink to 2033.

94 points Erin Larkin for The Wine Advocate, April 2026

This is very fragrant and spicy, showing clove, ripe-cherry, vanilla and roasted-spice aromas, followed by a medium-bodied, flavorful palate, with ripe and fine tannins supporting the spicy fruit. Excellent length and concentration. From the Upper Awatere valley. Drink or hold.

94 points Claire Nesbitt for James Suckling, June 2025

Upton Downs vineyard is located in the elevated Upper Awatere Valley. All Dijon clone 777 planted in 2003. 40% whole cluster pressed to French oak barriques (35% new) for 11 months. A light shade of garnet to the hue. This has macerated morello cherry expression to the aromas, with some smoked paprika spice, rooibos tea and turned brown earth. This is centred in red berries, with the meaty side of oak clinging to the sides. Bright acidity and fine, sandy tannins. A peppery meat- and tomato-based dish would work nicely alongside it. Drink to 2028.

93 points Shanteh Wale for Halliday Wine Companion, March 2026

The Turnbull family established their Upton Downs vineyard in the Upper Awatere subregion of Marlborough the early 2000s. The area is comprised of elevated terraces sculpted by tectonic uplift, with shallow silty loams interspersed with sand, gravel and clay over ancient mudstone delivering impeccable drainage and low vine vigour. The cool climate stretches the growing season and allows for slow, even ripening, yielding vibrant refined and red-fruited Pinot Noir.

The start of the 2023 season was heavily influenced by La Niña conditions and required diligent vineyard work to maintain vine canopy health. The last stretch of the season turned sunny and warm, allowing fruit to ripen well under the drier conditions.

The fruit for this wine was handpicked on Easter Sunday as a family affair. 40% was placed in the open fermenter as whole clusters, with the balance crushed on top for a six-day long cold soak ahead of indigenous yeasts kicking off fermentation. The must was hand plunged during the fifteen-day fermentation period after which the free-run and pressings were both placed in French oak barrels of which 35% were new. The wine spent a total of eleven months in oak, before being blended into a small stainless-steel vat for a further four months on fine lees ahead of bottling in July 2024 without fining or filtration.

Vegan friendly.

About this producer

Blank Canvas was founded in 2012 by husband-and-wife team Matt Thomson and Sophie Parker-Thomson MW as a culmination of decades of global experience and ongoing curiosity.

Their single vineyard New Zealand wines start lives as blank canvases, each seeking to present an authentic glimpse of a time and place through precision viticulture, restrained winemaking and transparent provenance.

The floor on quality is set high here, with wide critical acclaim bestowed on each wine and vintage. Blank Canvas is a certified member of the quality promoting Appellation Marlborough Wine as well as Sustainable New Zealand Winegrowing.