top 5

MISTY COVE HASN’T been around for a long time, but it is making waves and some seriously good wine. This isn’t the first time I’ve written about their wines achieving a top spot and I’m confident it won’t be the last. Right now, wine – like many industries – is having a tough time and brands are trying to think outside the box but not quite hitting the mark. The old traditions that tie us subconsciously to staid and serious wine chat perseveres. The oft repeated adage that, “We take wine, but not ourselves, too seriously” has been repeated over and over with no real evidence to back it up.

The team at Misty Cove are walking the walk as a new(ish), fun brand that celebrates its unconventionality and newness. They try new things and appear to me to be OK with imperfection, with not getting it right every time. What they are is out there trying, experimenting, evolving and having a good time while doing it. It’s refreshing.

So we can’t talk about heritage, but we can talk about some cracking, well- priced wines being made with love and passion. Case in point, this limited-release sauvignon is a quiet style that shows freshness and complexity on the nose and through the palate. It’s youthful with tropical notes and a ripe lime citrus lift and hints of sweet oak. Well weighted with a fantastic texture and fruit that follows through the line of this wine to the finish. This is a sauvignon worthy of the non- typical top spot and I can’t wait to see how ageing rewards this savvy stunner.

• New Zealand - Martinborough
• NZ $35
• Cellar: 5 year(s)
• View the full NZ & International Alternative Style Sauvignon Blanc 2026 tasting results

5