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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.
Bethany Wines First Village Grenache

Bethany First Village Barossa Valley Grenache 2023

Long gone are the days when the mere mention of Grenache on a label was toxic to winelovers. Today, Grenache,...
Bethany First Village Eden Valley Riesling

Bethany First Village Eden Valley Riesling 2024

Excellent Eden Valley Riesling from a top-notch vintage at a good price. A pale lemon hue, this is all bright...
Leconfield Richard Hamilton Cabernet Sauvignon NV low res

Richard Hamilton Hut Block McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Terrific value to be found in this delicious McLaren Vale Cabernet, from the Hut Block. The team like to use...
BOTTLE SHOT

Richard Hamilton The Surgeon McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022

A family tribute here, this is an impressive McLaren Vale Shiraz from a top vintage. The colour here is a...
Richard Hamilton Les Collines Pinot Gris NV Low Res

Richard Hamilton Les Collines Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris 2024

An excellent example of Pinot Gris from the Adelaide Hills, which has proved itself as a region as well suited...
Richard Hamilton La Valle Fiano low res

Richard Hamilton La Valle McLaren Vale Fiano 2024

McLaren Vale Fiano continues to excite wine lovers, deservedly so. A yellow straw hue here, there are notes of stone...
Richard Hamilton Almond Grove Chardonnay NV Low Res

Richard Hamilton Almond Grove McLaren Vale Chardonnay 2024

A little French oak adds an extra dimension to this McLaren Vale Chardonnay. This might not be the first region...
Richard Hamilton Lot Merlot NV Low Res

Richard Hamilton Lot 148 McLaren Vale Merlot 2022

The Merlot here comes from two McLaren Vale blocks, one planted in 1998 and the other back in 1985. Oak...
Richard Hamilton Little Road Shiraz NV Low Res

Richard Hamilton Little Road McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022

I’m always keen to review a wine without knowing the price – not always possible – and I did so...
NV

Hare’s Chase Mataro Rosé Barossa Valley 2024

A blend of Mataro and Cinsaut from the Barossa Valley, given a cold fermentation and then bottled without fining. The...
STMEL

Hare’s Chase St Melangell Cabernet 2022

Apparently, Melangell was a 7th century Celtic princess who was forced into an unwanted marriage. Unhappy with this, she fled...
Endurance NV

Hare’s Chase Endurance Grenache 2022

Barossa Valley Grenache continues to excite – it does the wine no harm that it is also from a superb...
Craye?res Sauv Blanc Trans

Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2024

From the Crayères Vineyard in Wrattonbully, this is always a much lauded Sauvignon Blanc. 2024 was an excellent vintage for...
Rivers Lane Shiraz

J&J Rivers Lane Organic McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022

Another thoroughly enjoyable and good value Shiraz from a cracking vintage in McLaren Vale. Maturation was in both French and...
th Anniversary Shiraz trimmed white space

J&J 25th Anniversary McLaren Vale Organic Shiraz 2022

A worthy wine to celebrate an impressive anniversary, and well priced as well. From a superb vintage in McLaren Vale,...
MOSSWOOD White Elsa

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Elsa 2024

The team at Moss Wood have said that the 2024 vintage reminds them of the great year of 1995. Yields...
MOSSWOOD White Chardonnay

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Chardonnay 2024

Ripening took place over a slightly shorter period than this region usually sees. Yields were down but quality was up....
MOSS WOOD Cab Sav ml White Background

Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

This stunning Margaret River Cabernet has 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot included. The team talk of some of...
Pepper Tree Limited Release Pinot Noir Orange

Peppertree Limited Release Orange Pinot Noir 2023

An impressive Pinot Noir from the estate’s vineyard in the high altitude Orange region, the colour is a cerise garnet....
Le Cellier de Saint Louis X PROVENCE ROSE

X Provence Rosé 2024

Another fine Provencal Rosé, specifically from the Côteaux Varois region, the blend is Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah. Fermentation is in...
Lumière de Provence rosé NV

Lumiere Provence Rosé 2024

From the Côteaux Varois in Provence, this appealing Rosé is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Rolle and Syrah. Fermentation is...
Le Cellier de Saint Louis X PROVENCE ROSE

Le Cellier de Saint Louis Mosaique Organic Mediterranee IGP Rosé 2024

Provencal Rosé continues to excite, providing delicious drinking and transporting one to the south of France, leaving us imagining sitting...
Brise Maritime Mediterranee IGP Rose

Brise Maritime Mediterranee IGP Rosé 2024

Provencal Rosé is definitely the darling of the wine world at the moment, hugely popular with consumers and deservedly so....
Bowrider Prosecco

Bowrider Prosecco NV

Aussie Prosecco from the Murray Darling region, the name alludes to the wave created by dolphins swimming in the ocean,...

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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