2020 Settlement Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir, Blank Canvas

• Style: Structured, cool-climate Pinot Noir
• Taste: Bright cherry and plum with earthy, forest-floor savouriness
• Food: Roast dinners, mushroom & truffle, poultry, cured meats
• Occasion: Sunday lunch, date night
• Serve: Slightly chilled, 13% ABV

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

A Pinot Noir that drinks with real conviction. Bright cherry and plum fruit layer against earthy, savoury undertones, with the structural weight that promises to develop beautifully over five to seven years. At 13% alcohol with crisp acidity, this wine feels alive in the glass—graceful, approachable, and built for the table now.

The Winery — Blank Canvas

Matt Thomson and Sophie Parker-Thomson, a consultant winemaker and Master of Wine respectively, channel four decades of collective global winemaking experience into small-batch fine wines from exceptional single-vineyard sites. The 2020 Settlement Vineyard block in Marlborough's Omaka Valley—north-facing, wind-blown loess, farmed organically—gave Clone 777 exactly the cool conditions Pinot thrives in. The vintage was remarkably clean, with moderate summer temperatures keeping fruit fresh and precise. In the cellar, Blank Canvas chose restraint: two-thirds whole-bunch fermentation, 12 months in French oak (35% new, low-toast) and no filtration. Their philosophy shines through—the wine's own fruit speaks rather than oak flavour.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Serve slightly chilled alongside roasted beef, duck, or aged goat's cheese; equally at home with herb-crusted chicken. This is one of the finest expressions of what happens when international expertise meets exceptional Marlborough terroir. Explore the depth that cool-climate New Zealand winemaking delivers—hand-harvested, naturally fermented, bottled unfiltered, certified organic. Perfect for Sunday lunch gatherings or intimate date-night pairings, this is a wonderful entry point into sustainable, art-meets-science winemaking.