Invivo Wines has been in the news lately, notably as the first New Zealand company to raise $2 million through equity crowdfunding from 439 investors to fuel further growth, the amount of funds being the maximum under law. It’s certainly an endorsement of what founders Tim Lightbourne and winemaker Rob Cameron are achieving with their wine.
However, it’s not all super-serious! Following last year’s fun and excitement with Tim Lightbourne rushing fresh 2014 vintage Sauvignon Blanc to London where Invivo shareholder and talk show host Graham Norton crushed and stomped the grapes personally to make some of his own wine (click here to see my report), the 2015 wine has a much greater input from the famous man. Graham Norton wanted to take a personal role in the blending of his wine!
So Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron flew over to Graham in London with glassware, blending equipment and six different distinctive samples of Sauvignon Blanc from their six Marlborough growers for Graham to make his own wine. The blending session took the course of several hours and can be seen on a video at www.invivowines.com/GN15 The final blend features wines of proportions of three of the samples that were transported to London. Graham’s tasting note is “That’s it, my perfect blend…and it’s lovely, tropical fruit, a bit of zing…cheers to that!” Proceeds from sales of the wine go to ‘Dogs Trust’ which Graham supports www.dogstrust.org.uk Here is my review of the wine. www.invivowines.com
Invivo ‘Graham Norton’s Own’ SauviGNon Blanc 2015
Brilliant, very pale straw colour with light lemon-green hues, near colourless on rim. The nose is softly full and evenly presented with gentle aromas of passionfruit and tropical fruits, unfolding mineral detail with aeration. Dryish to taste and light-medium bodied, gentle mouthfilling flavours of sweet and pungent passionfruit, tropical fruit and capsicums feature on the palate. The mouthfeel is harmonious with fine acid zestiness and delicate, chalky minerality adding detail and interest. The wine flows smoothly and carries to an elegant, dry finish with passionfruit notes. This is a softly refreshing Sauvignon Blanc with passionfruit and tropical fruit flavours and a harmonious mouthfeel. Serve with seafood, salads and vegetables over the next 2 years. Marlborough fruit from ‘Karlos Rover’ site in the upper Wairau, the ‘Westhaven’ site in the Dashwood and also ‘Cobden Farm’ on the southern banks of the Awatere River. in the blend proportions as decided by Graham Norton, cool-fermented in stainless-steel to 12.5% alc., and 4.2 g/L RS. 17.5+/20 Sep 2015 RRP $19.95
