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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.
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Southern Light Vineyards Ghostgum Chardonnay 2022

A relatively new operation out of Mornington Peninsula, the Main Ridge sub-region, which is producing some seriously good wines. The...
DSW Mars Express Shiraz ST bottle shot

Dewey Station The Mars Express Shiraz 2022

From a mix of Barossa vineyards, 40% Altona and 60% Ebenezer, with nine months maturation in a mix of French...
DSW Venus Express GSM ST bottle shot

Dewey Station The Venus Express GSM 2021

My pick of the Dewey Station trio. A mix of 65% Grenache, 27.5% Shiraz and 7.5% Mataro from a range...
shiraz

O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River Armagh Shiraz 2022

The fruit here is sourced from two of the most exciting sub-regions in the Clare Valley, Armagh and the Polish...
chardonnay nv

Holm Oak Chardonnay 2023

The fruit for this fine Tasmanian Chardonnay was sourced from two discrete blocks (three different clones) and gently pressed, before...
wizard chardonnay nv

Holm Oak The Wizard Chardonnay 2023

A step-up here, and vintage conditions allowed the team to increase production of their prestige Chardonnay to six barrels (five...
Stockmans Ridge Signature Range Left Bank

Stockman’s Ridge Signature Range Left Bank 2022

From Orange, this wine pays homage to the wonderful Left Bank Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines from Bordeaux. It is a blend...
Stockmans Ridge Signature Range Right Bank

Stockman’s Ridge Signature Range Right Bank 2022

 An interesting concept to offer Left and Right Bank reds from the Orange region in New South Wales. They are...
mw sevenhill vineyard cabernet sauvignon

Mitchell Sevenhill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

From a brilliant vintage for the region, this terrific Cabernet suggests that anyone ignoring how good that variety is from...
mw pinot gris

Mitchell Pinot Gris 2023

First released with the 2021 vintage, this Clare Valley Pinot Gris is made from hand-harvested fruit, which is whole bunch...
mw mcnicol cv riesling

Mitchell McNicol Riesling 2015

The McNicol name is a link to an old family name from a couple of centuries ago. Ann McNicol married...
Warramunda Estate Cabernets Blend

Warramunda Cabernets 2023

From the Coldstream sub-region of the Yarra Valley, this thoroughly enjoyable red blend is under Diam. A cherry red hue,...
Warramundan Estate LivZac Malbec

Warramunda Liv Zak Malbec 2023

Yarra Valley Malbec, not so regularly encountered as a single variety wine but intriguing to see, which spent time maturing...
Warramunda Estate LivZac Cab Sauv

Warramunda Liv Zak Cabernets Blend 2023

A blend from the Yarra Valley, this is crimson red in colour. The nose exhibits spices, red fruits, milk chocolate...
Warramunda Estate Syrah

Warramunda Syrah 2023

A very fine Syrah (Shiraz) under Diam from the Coldstream sub-region of the Yarra Valley, this wine is a deep...
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Crabtree Estate Watervale Grenache Shiraz 2023

The fruit here is sourced from two estate blocks – the Shiraz from a cooler one and the Grenache from...
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Crabtree Estate Watervale Tempranillo 2023

Clare Valley Tempranillo is not common fodder, but with wines like this one, it might well become so. The team...
Woodside Vineyard Pinot Grigio

Tomich Woodside Vineyard Pinot Grigio 2023

From a single, high altitude vineyard in the Woodside sub-region of the Adelaide Hills. No oak used here, just a...
Woodside Vineyard Pinot Noir

Tomich Woodside Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

From a single vineyard in the Woodside sub-region of the Adelaide Hills, which was planted in 2001, the fermentation was...
Bottle WoodsideVineyardSauvignonBlanc

Tomich Woodside Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023

A fine Adelaide Hills Savvy from a single vineyard in the Woodside sub-region. Minimal skin contact and a long, slow,...
Woodside Vineyard Gruner Veltliner

Tomich Woodside Vineyard Grüner Veltliner 2023

Grüner seems to have found a perfect home in the Adelaide Hills and this is another gem. The vineyard, in...
Woodside Vineyard Riesling

Tomich Woodside Vineyard Riesling 2023

Another in the line-up of single vineyard, high altitude releases from the Woodside sub-region of the Adelaide Hills. This vineyard...
Bottle WoodsideVineyard Chardonnay

Tomich Woodside Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills, this one hailing from a single vineyard in the Woodside sub-region, has proved itself to...
HECHRE NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Chardonnay Reserve 2022

Whole bunch pressing, a range of yeasts including wild yeasts, barrel fermentation in a combination of new and older French...

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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