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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.
Ruscello Sangiovese

Watkins Ruscello Sangiovese 2022

Cold soaking after harvest and then two weeks on skins with eight months maturation. The fruit is from the Langhorne...
Tapanappa WhaleboneVineyard MerlotCabFranc

Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Everything about this wine suggests it is one for the long haul. Both the Merlot and Cabernet Franc come from...
Tapanappa WhaleboneVineyard CabShiraz

Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Wrattonbully Cabernet Shiraz 2019

A warm and dry vintage for the region in 2019, which helped ensure that the Whalebone Vineyard, planted 45 years...
PPE PIN Estate BLN NV MED TN

Port Phillip Estate Pinot Noir Balnarring 2023

From the Balnarring Vineyard, planted in 1997, fermentation was in stainless steel and large format oak, followed by eleven months...
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Sordo Gioso Langhe Nebbiolo 2021

Anyone who enjoys delicious Piedmont reds will surely be familiar with the family operation of Sordo (I say family, but...
Wild Folk Prosecco NS V()

Wild Folk Natural Prosecco NV

Prosecco from the King Valley in Victoria, this is pale and a very faded yellow. The wine opens with an...
HARE & TORTOISE ROSE NV NS()

Hare and Tortoise Rosé 2022

This is an intriguing style of Rosé from Victoria, a blend of Sangiovese, Mataro and Merlot, which was pressed off...
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Elderton Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

This block of Cabernet was originally planted in the 1940s. It looked a bit grim when the plan was to...
Elderton Command Shiraz NV transparent background square

Elderton Command Shiraz 2021

My first thought on tasting this wine was simply, wow, this might just be the very best Command Shiraz I...

Twinwoods Single Vineyard Margaret River Shiraz 2017

From the Wilyabrup sub-region in the acclaimed Margaret River, this is a dark maroon hue. The nose gives aromas of...
JKW CYME OV Grenache

Kalleske Cyme Barossa Centenarian Vine Grenache 2023

Just 100 cases of this really exciting Barossa Grenache made. There was 20% whole bunch fermentation and 48 days extended...
Basileus Grenache

Basileus Barossa Valley Grenache 2020

Apparently Basileus is Greek for Kings, or so it was once. And of course, the Barossa is the King of...
Basileus Reisling NV

Basileus Clare Riesling 2023

Free run juice used here with a temperature controlled fermentation and the colour is a pale lemon with green flecks....
Basileus Shiraz Med

Basileus Barossa Valley Shiraz 2020

A thoroughly appealing Barossa Shiraz which will provide pleasure for the rest of the decade and a little more. Destemming...
Jilyara Williams' Block Cabernet Sauvignon

Jilyara The Williams’ Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

From the famed Wilyabrup sub-region, this is a superb example of what can be achieved here. Always fun to listen...
Jilyara Williams' Block Chardonnay

Jilyara The Williams’ Block Chardonnay 2022

Is it possible to get enough Marg River Chardonnay?  Seeing wines like this, I don’t think so. A very pale...
Driftwood Single Site Chardonnay

Driftwood Chardonnay Margaret River 2021

A single site Margaret River Chardonnay, showing just how brilliant the combination of region and grape can be. The wine...
Driftwood Single Site Cab Sauv

Driftwood Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River 2022

As exciting as the Chardonnay is, this is even more so. A single site wine, the colour is a deep...
Driftwood Single Site Cab Sauv

Driftwood Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River 2021

Again, a single site wine. There is a dark magenta hue. The nose offers notes of spices, herbs, raspberries and...

Sieger Estate Frederick Pinot Noir Adelaide Hills Old Vine Range 2023

Adelaide Hills Pinot from the Old Vine range, this is a very pale ruby red. There is an aromatic and...

Sieger Estate Block 178 Barossa GSM 2021

There is limited production of this delicious Barossa GSM. The wine has a deep red colour. It is plush, silky,...
NV Jeanneret Rank File Shiraz

Jeanneret Temperance League Shiraz 2022

No doubt, there is good reason for such a name though it escapes me. A bit like Aussie Rules holding...

Twinwoods Optivus Margaret River Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Again, for me, the 2018 is the slightly superior wine between the two vintages. A cracking wine. Similar winemaking to...

Twinwoods Optivus Margaret River Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

The fruit here is sourced from the estate vineyards in the Wilyabrup sub-region. After fermentation, the wine spends a year...

Stories

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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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