Blank Canvas Pinot Noir Settlement Vineyard Marlborough 2020

Jancis Robinson MW 17/20 punten
"Settlement Vineyard is in the Omaka Valley subregion of the Southern Valleys. A 1-ha parcel of clone 777 Pinot Noir, a 'perfumed Dijon clone that delivers naturally small bunches'. This hillside block is north-facing and planted on wind-blown loess over low-vigour clay loams. The vineyard was planted in 2009 and is now Bio-Gro certified and farmed organically. 2020 was 'one of the easiest and exciting from a quality perspective, but one of the most challenging because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown'. Hand-harvested on 24 March. Two-thirds of the fruit was left as whole clusters (more than in the previous vintage) while the balance was destemmed and crushed over the top in the open-tank fermenter. The fruit was kept cool until spontaneous fermentation commenced after four days. The tank was hand-plunged throughout its 15-day fermentation period, after which the wine was drained and pressed to barrel where it completed malolactic conversion. 100% French oak barriques (35% new, low-toast) for 12 months with a further three months in tank. Bottled without filtration. Mid to light garnet. More Côte de Beaune than Côte de Nuit in its red-fruit profile and without the sweetness I often find on a Marlborough Pinot, and with a suggestion of spice and floral notes. So it could even be Chambolle ... Elegant, pure-fruited, mouth-watering and with a lovely mix of savoury character and red-fruits. Very fine tannins, almost chalky at the end. Beautiful hand-crafted Pinot. Mouth-watering, light-bodied, between seductive and cerebral with juicy and floral intensity on the palate on the day after opening."

Decanter Magazine 95/100 punten
 "Lovely nose, fragrant and beguiling with complex florals, fine spices, raspberry, red cherry, plum and tobacco leaf (65% whole bunch ferment). A lively fine-boned wine with bright red summer fruits and very good concentration, a dense core and cleverly delicate yet firm tannins. The palate has an attractive minerally, almost saline thread that carries to the long dry finish. Looks very smart indeed. From the Settlement Vineyard in Omaka, Southern Valleys, a close-planted, organically farmed hillside site. Appellation Marlborough Wine certified."

Bob Campbell MW 95/100 punten
 "Attractively aromatic wine with floral/violet, red cherry, grape stems and a suggestion of classy oak. Elegant wine with high energy, crushed herb flavours. Approachable now but with good cellaring potential."

Cameron Douglas MS 94/100 punten
"A youthful core of dark red cherry and fruit spice, there’s a distinctive perfume of rose then wild berries and oak spice. A fine white smoke note from barrel and soft silty soil earthy quality layers in breadth and complexity. Lots of core red fruit flavours touch the palate first then textures from finer polished tannins, plenty of acidity and a fine saline quality. Fresh, varietal balanced, a nice tautness and gentle squeeze, well made, youthful still and lengthy. Best drinking from 2024 through 2030. Be great to see this wine in a year."

Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous 92/100 punten
"The 2020 Settlement Vineyard Pinot Noir is an exposed site and it's only the second vintage from Blank Canvas. It's made using two-thirds whole cluster and is initially a little shy but there's layers of flavor from cherry and black tea, to spices and wild, woody herbs. Expect a light grip from the tannins and a sense of tension on the finish akin to a tightening belt."

James Suckling 92/100 punten
"Attractive dried strawberries and sweet plums with some orange peel undertones. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a rough silk textured finish. Succulent. Tangy too Sustainable."