Michael Cooper's thoughts on our two new release Chardonnays have been published, the Blank Canvas 'Reed' Chardonnay 2019 gathering all 5 stars. The Reed's younger sibling the 'Escaroth' Chardonnay 2019 did exceptionally well on debut with 4.5 Stars.  

These wines both feature in Michael Cooper's Buyer's Guide 2021. 

Blank Canvas Reed Marlborough Chardonnay (2019)

"Slightly more extroverted at this stage than its Escaroth stablemate, the classy 2019 vintage (5*) is a single-vineyard, Waihopai Valley wine, hand-picked and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak puncheons (40 per cent new). Bright, light lemon/green, it is mouthfilling and savoury, with concentrated, citrusy, peachy flavours, finely integrated oak and impressive complexity. A powerful, distinctive wine with obvious potential, it’s best cellared to 2022+."

Blank Canvas Escaroth Marlborough Chardonnay (2019)

The very ageworthy 2019 vintage (4.5*) is a single-vineyard wine, grown at Taylors Pass, in the Southern Valleys. Hand-picked, it was fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barriques and puncheons (30 per cent new). Bright, light lemon/green, it has a fragrant, youthful, complex, slightly smoky bouquet. Weighty, with generous, grapefruit-like flavours, a subtle seasoning of oak, excellent complexity, balanced acidity and a tight-knit finish, it should be at its best 2022+.