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Ken Gargett

Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
MtBeraALATEMPRANILLO

Mt. Bera A la Naturale Tempranillo 2024

Similar to its GV sibling, in a squat bot, amphorae fermented, only 468 bottles were made. Again, a vineyard in...
MtB W&F Pinot Noir

Mt. Bera Wild & Free Pinot Noir 2023

Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir, fermented in French oak with 10% whole bunches. The wine then saw nine months maturation in...
Mt Bera AH AMPHITHEATRE Blaufrankish

Mt. Bera Amphitheatre Blaufrankisch 2024

Blaufrankisch is a rather obscure red from Europe which has, until recently, been largely the preserve of a single grower...
MtB RWC Tempranillo

Mt. Bera Running with the Cows Tempranillo 2023

Cute name and terrific packaging for this famous Spanish variety, this example from the Adelaide Hills. The colour is a...
MtB W&F Cabernet Merlot NV

Mt. Bera Wild and Free Cabernet Merlot 2023

Just 450 cases made of this most appealing Cab Merlot blend from the Adelaide Hills. Fermentation was in French oak...
CastleRock A&W PinotNoir

Castle Rock Porongurup A&W Pinot Noir 2024

This is named after Rob’s parents, Angelo and Wendy, the founders of Castle Rock. They planted the first vines in...
Wild Game The Earl Pinot Noir

Wild Game The Earl Mount Gambier Pinot Noir 2024

From the Mount Gambier region, there is a contribution from new French oak maturation here. The colour is an appealing...
Single Vineyard Barossa Shiraz

Little Giant Single Vineyard Barossa Shiraz 2023

The fruit for this gem hails from the Light Pass sub-region of the Barossa Valley. Fermentation is in stainless steel...
Farm Hand Organic Pinot Grigio

Farm Hand Organic Pinot Grigio 2025

The fruit is sourced from the Grigoriou family’s vineyards in the Monash Valley in South Australia. Fermentation in stainless steel...
Farm Hand Organic Rose

Farm Hand Organic Rosé 2024

Also from the Grigoriou family vineyards in the Monash Valley, but we are not made privy to the grape varieties...
Adelaide Hills Chardonnay

Little Giant Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2024

As ever, the Little Giant range is in what I think of as squat bots. They might not be traditional...
Gamay Adelaide Hills

Little Giant Adelaide Hills Gamay 2024

Beyond me why on earth we do not see a great many more examples of Gamay – was it that...
Buttery Chardonnay Adelaide Hills

Little Giant Buttery Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2024

Love the name here. Nothing subtle at all. Just a good old-fashioned clarion call to the silent throngs who loved...
Coonawarra Cabernet

Little Giant Coonawarra Cabernet 2023

Cracking value Cabernet from Coonawarra here in this squat bot. Maturation is usually conducted in a mixture of stainless steel,...
Little Batch Barossa Montepulciano

Little Giant Little Batch Barossa Montepulciano 2024

Montepulciano is a variety that is gaining a foothold across vineyards around Australia and the Barossa seems to be presenting...
Little Batch McLaren Vale Shiraz Mataro

Little Giant Little Batch McLaren Vale Shiraz Mataro 2023

The fruit here is sourced from a vineyard in the foothills of McLaren Vale at Willunga. Maturation is for around...
Bimbadgen Growers Shiraz

Bimbadgen Estate B Growers Shiraz 2022

This fine Hunter Valley Shiraz is the latest addition to the Growers range. The fruit hails from both the Upper...
BW Old Vines Semillon NV

Brokenwood 1899 Old Vines Semillon 2023

This 1.7 hectare vineyard was, no surprise here, planted in 1899, and sits opposite the famous Oakey Creek Vineyard. A...
BW Hunter Valley Shiraz NV

Brokenwood Hunter Valley Shiraz 2023

Maturation for this typically fragrant and elegant Hunter Shiraz was in French oak, 25% new, with 25% puncheons. The grapes...
BW Mistress Block Vineyard Shiraz NV

Brokenwood Mistress Block Vineyard Hunter Valley Shiraz 2023

As someone who has woken up next to the Mistress Block, I can confirm that it is a beautiful site,...
BW Oakey Creek Vineyard Chardonnay DV

Brokenwood Oakey Creek Vineyard Chardonnay 2024

Just the third release of a Chardonnay from this vineyard, famous as one of the great Semillon vineyards in the...
BW Chardonnay NV

Brokenwood Chardonnay 2024

The majority of the fruit used in this wine hails from Beechworth, with further material from the Hunter and the...
St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

The St Hugo Coonawarra Cab has long been a star performer for the region. From a wonderful year like 2021,...
StHugo Barossa Shiraz

St Hugo Barossa Shiraz 2022

Barossa Shiraz from the wonderful 2022 vintage gives this wine a wonderful headstart. This is all about plushness, generosity and...

Stories

MartenAscenzo Penfolds PenfoldsMediaPreview D

Penfolds 2023 – ‘The Aussies’

There is no release more anticipated by winelovers in Australia than the annual Penfold’s Collection and of course, most especially...

Artisans of the Barossa (2021 Grenache Project)

One of the more interesting projects currently afloat in Aussie wine at the moment, especially appropriate given the skyrocketing interest...

Alkina – The Curious Box of Paradoxes

Alkina is a curious box of paradoxes. Seemingly unlimited resources but still tiny; a small local operation yet part of...

Cumulus and Quilty & Gransden

They say that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. Perhaps, but I would suggest that the Australian wine industry...

Greenock Creek New Releases 2021

It was back in 1984 that the first grapes were picked for the inaugural vintage from Greenock Creek wines. Taken...

Duval on Grenache

The name, Duval, is and always will be inextricably linked with Grange. John Duval was chief winemaker at Penfold’s from...
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