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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.
Sirocco Chardonnay

Pike & Joyce Sirocco Chardonnay 2024

Fermentation here was with native yeasts in French oak. A tiny amount was allowed to undergo malo, to add to...
Descente Sav Blanc

Pike & Joyce Descente Sauvignon Blanc 2024

The standard old Savvy has been given a lift with a touch of complexity by the inclusion of a small...
Ceder Riesling

Pike & Joyce Ceder Riesling 2024

Lenswood Riesling which spent four months on lees, the fruit here came from a vineyard at a lofty 600 metres...
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Clonakilla Viognier Nouveau 2025

From the Canberra region, fermentation was in stainless steel with bottling soon after, the idea to capture the youth and...
Head Wilton Hill

Head Wilton Hill Shiraz 2022

The Wilton Hill vineyard in Eden Valley was planted at an altitude of 480 metres back in 1965. Alex uses...
HEAD Ancestor Vine Grenache

Head Ancestor Vine Grenache 2023

Alex’s elite version of Grenache, the fruit is from a 167-year-old vineyard near Springton in the Eden Valley, which sits...
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1847 Gully Winds Shiraz Barossa Valley 2022

From a superb vintage for the Barossa Valley, this screams generous and approachable, old vine, gorgeously plush Barossa Shiraz –...
Riposte Scimitar Riesling NEW NV

Riposte The Scimitar Riesling 2025

From a single vineyard in the Clare Valley, which runs to the east of the town of Watervale. This is,...
Riposte Stiletto PG NEW NV

Riposte The Stiletto Pinot Gris 2025

From the Adelaide Hills, the team like to split the fruit by keeping the free run apart from the pressings,...
The Grower Rose nv

Schwarz Wine Co The Grower Rosé 2024

As with the previous vintage, the blend here is 70% Grenache and 30% Mataro. This is a cracking Rosé. A...
The Grower Chenin Blanc nv

Schwarz Wine Co The Grower Chenin Blanc Barossa Valley 2024

Part of the range celebrating the growers in the Barossa who provide so much of the fruit for the region’s...
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Schwarz Wine Co Meta Grenache Blanc Barossa Valley 2024

Grenache Blanc might be a successful variety in France’s Rhône Valley, but it is rarely seen beyond those borders. Exciting...
GoldenLion ShirazBV btt

Lou Miranda Golden Lion Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021

From a superb vintage, this is a Barossa gem. Deep maroon in colour, there is some toasty oak evident, though...
FierceIII SagrantinoBV btt

Lou Miranda Fierce III Sagrantino 2021

Sagrantino, from the Italian region of Umbria, is a rich, full style of red, often tannic. This example spends a...
FierceIII ShirazBV btt

Lou Miranda Fierce III Shiraz 2023

From trellised vines in the southern part of the Barossa Valley planted as far back as 1995. Purple maroon in...
HeritageSeries OVShz

Lou Miranda 1907 Centenarian Old Vine Shiraz 2019

The grapes for this superb Barossa Shiraz come from the team’s dry grown Church Block, which was planted way back...
HeritageSeries OVShzMouv

Lou Miranda 1898 Centenarian Old Vine Shiraz Mataro 2021

A great Barossa vintage and fruit from the dry grown Angel’s Block at Lyndoch, which was planted in 1898 and...
Yalumba Running with Bulls Shiraz

Running with Bulls Bullish Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024

This appealing Barossa Shiraz, which underwent a natural ferment, has a dollop of Tempranillo added, to crank up its spicy...
Yalumba Running with Bulls Tempranillo Bagnum

Running with Bulls Barossa Valley Tempranillo 2023

They call this very convenient 1.5 litre bag a Bagnum, which I rather like. Almost as much as I like...
LEEUWIN Deep Etch Cab Sav

Leeuwin Estate Art Series Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

There is debate in the Margaret River region as to whether 2022 or 2023 is the better vintage. It is...
LEEUWIN ESTATE Deep Etched AS Shiraz

Leeuwin Estate Art Series Margaret River Shiraz 2023

This just might be the value buy from the Art Series range – actually, from recent releases, it surely is....
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Curtis Legion Chardonnay 2025

Sourced from regions across South Australia, this is an easy drinking style. A bright yellow in colour, the nose heads...
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Curtis Terra Rossa Shiraz 2024

An early example of the quality of the recent 2024 vintage, this McLaren Vale Shiraz is a blood red hue,...
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Curtis Tiberius Shiraz 2021

The use of the squat bot is becoming a little more widespread and the team have employed it for their...

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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