The 2025 Blank Canvas Meta Riesling is a luscious late-harvest Riesling from the coastal Blind River subregion of Marlborough. Crafted by Matt Thomson and Sophie Parker-Thomson MW, the wine is made from fully botrytised grapes grown at the Muritai Vineyard, less than two kilometres from the Pacific Ocean. The name Meta refers to the transformation brought about by noble rot, concentrating the fruit into intensely flavoured berries and creating one of New Zealand’s most exciting sweet wine releases.
The nose is intensely aromatic, revealing orange blossom honey, marmalade, quince, apricot and citrus zest. Rich and decadent on the palate, it balances pronounced sweetness with remarkable freshness, driven by piercing Riesling acidity. Cameron Douglas MS awarded the wine 94 points, while Michael Cooper described it as a “real treat”, praising its concentration, balance and long ageing potential.
Ben’s Recommendation:
A stunning half-bottle sweet wine that beautifully balances richness and freshness. Nectarous, complex and incredibly moreish, it pairs superbly with blue cheese, foie gras, tarte tatin, apricot desserts and citrus-based sweets. Enjoy now for its youthful exuberance or cellar through 2040 and beyond as it develops even greater complexity.
