Chardonnay, Blank Canvas `Tano` Marlborough, 2023

The Blank Canvas ‘Tano’ Marlborough Chardonnay 2023 is a masterclass in precision and power. Crafted by Matt Thomson, this is no ordinary Marlborough Chardonnay—it’s rich yet refined, with layers of ripe citrus, stone fruit, and toasted hazelnut wrapped in a beautiful mineral backbone. A touch of well-judged oak adds depth without overpowering its pure, vibrant character. Silky, complex, and utterly compelling, this is a Chardonnay for serious wine lovers. Limited bottles—don’t miss out!

"a beautiful first-release single-vineyard chardonnay" - 97 points from James Suckling.

Matt Thomson is one of New Zealand’s most respected and experienced winemakers, known for his hands-on, detail-driven approach to crafting world-class wines. With over 30 years in the industry, he has worked extensively across New Zealand, Italy, France, and Australia, bringing a wealth of global expertise to his own label, Blank Canvas. Watch out for his name is some of our entry wines.

"New Zealand Chardonnay has never been better," announces Master of Wine Emma Jenkins in her latest Decanter piece, aptly entitled 'Why now is the time to embrace New Zealand Chardonnay.'

Delving deep into the history, evolution of style and the incredibly exciting diversity of Chardonnay in New Zealand, Emma finishes by singling out her Top 12 to try now.

Their brand new 'Tano' Chardonnay from the wild, windswept coastal Blind River subregion received a terrific 96 points with Emma noting its "delicious savoury, silky palate with a briny oyster-shell note and invitingly brisk acidity," characteristics that we also adore from this special site and demonstrating the compelling stylistic diversity we have here in Marlborough.

They think Emma is spot on in her observation that Kiwi Chardonnay "is gaining recognition for its balance of fruit purity, bright acidity and silky complexity." It's this fruit intensity, balance and purity that is so world-class and we're excited to be part of its upward trajectory in Aotearoa New Zealand.

With only a handful of cases of Tano left at the winery, there will be a long wait before the 2024 is released, which is currently maturing on lees in Tano cuves where it will stay until November.

Emma Jenkins MW, Top New Zealand Chardonnay: 12 to try, Decanter.
96 points
From Blind River, a small subregion to the south of Awatere Valley, this is a very pure wine. Bright citrus, fine white peach and delicate nutty notes; a delicious savoury, silky palate with a briny oyster-shell note and invitingly brisk acidity. Very sleek and precise with good tension and length. Quite stripped back and all the better for it. Appellation Marlborough Wine certified.

Julia Harding MW, Wine discoveries, Jancis Robinson. 

Blank Canvas, `Tano` Marlborough Chardonnay 2023, New Zealand
17.5 points
Very slightly flinty at first, though this is less noticeable on the day after opening. There's subtle oak notes – creamy, mealy – and ripe citrus with a light note of fruit sweetness but the ripeness is just on the edge, so the fruit sings without being overly rich. There's also a combination of minerally crushed stones and something else I find hard to pinpoint, like a crushed aromatic waxy leaf. I can imagine this would develop a touch of lanolin and toast with bottle age. On the palate, there's immense finesse and tension. Absolutely no lack of fruit but it is knife-edge ripe, giving intensity rather than masses of fruit flavour. Pristine. Very gently rounded out by the lees. Given the full solids, I expected a little more struck-match character but here it is only a light flinty expression. Long and tense and likely to age well – and gets better and better after the bottle has been open a couple of days. This could easily be mistaken from good premier cru Chablis, even if it has that little bit of richness from New Zealand's cool but sunny climate.