Mount Fishtail Albariño 2024 (Marlborough)
When I first started out in this world of wine, Misty Cove was a brand that piqued my interest as it seemed to be on the same wavelength as was I. It aimed to do something different, to be fresh and modern in a world which has a reputation for being fusty and snobbish.
Its tagline is ‘Wine for Good Times’ and it’s an ethos that the team live and breathe. The small, hardworking team is looking to disrupt how wine ‘looks’ and how we think about this elixir in a bottle that is made to be shared and loved, not hoarded and analysed.
Way back then Misty Cove had a handful of wines, so it’s been a real joy to see the portfolio grow, new labels emerge and see this team succeed. Fishtail is a new sub-brand for Misty Cove that I have previously been unaware of, but it’s coming in strong as our top albariño for 2025 and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
Bright and punchy with a comingling of lemon and salt on the nose that is reminiscent of eating fish and chips on the beach (that’s a Kiwi meal that would be nothing short of divine with this wine). The palate is fresh and powerful with wonderful intensity of flavour and a juicy midpalate that just can’t seem to quit. Long and delicious and altogether moreish, it’s the perfect wine to share with friends and a salty snack while the days are still long and warm.