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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.
cabsav

Paisley Barossa Valley Corduroy Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

I am advised by friends that corduroy trousers is apparently an appalling fashion faux pas, although it might have helped...
St Hugo Attunement

St Hugo Attunement Shiraz Cabernet 2018

Doing what Australia does best, a blend of regions and a blend of varieties for this cracking Barossa red from...
cab franc nv

Holm Oak Cabernet Franc 2024

There are just one hundred dozen bottles of this extremely impressive Cab Franc made, surely one of the best examples...
arneis nv

Holm Oak Arneis 2024

Something of a unicorn as it is apparently the only Arneis made in Tasmania. After pressing and settling, the juice...
chardonnay nv

Holm Oak Chardonnay 2024

Three clones and two discrete blocks are used here. The juice underwent a wild ferment in barrel, 30% new French...
protege pinot noir nv

Holm Oak The Protégé Pinot Noir 2024

Good value Pinot from Tassie here. Fermentation was on skins over ten days, followed by a period in tank before...
pinot noir nv

Holm Oak Pinot Noir 2024

This wine underwent a natural fermentation in small open top fermenters, hand plunged several times a day and then went...
fearless pinot noir

Holm Oak Fearless Pinot Noir 2023

If you have not seen this Holm Oak Pinot before, fear not. This is the inaugural release. They have avoided...
ANCNRE NV New Website Bottle Shot

Anselmi Realda 2023

Most consumers think of white wines when they think Anselmi but this fine Cabernet Sauvignon proves that they have more...
SOTPVS NV Website Bottle Shot

La Sorda Rioja 2022

A youthful Temp from Rioja, with a touch of Graciano and Mazuelo, which will provide some thoroughly delicious drinking in...
VEIRBR NV New Website Bottle Shot

Vespa Bruno Primitivo Salento 2022

From Puglia, this is what we would call Zinfandel, and it is done well. One slightly jarring note – synthetic...
NCIRRP NV Website Bottle Shot

Nicolas Seccal Valpolicella Ripasso 2020

Valpolicella, made in their famous Ripasso style, should be on everyone’s radar. If it is not, this is a fine...
NCIRAM NV Website Bottle Shot

Nicolas Amarone Classico 2019

This is the big gun from the Veneto region – based near Verona, so think Romeo and Juliet, but would...
NCIRVA NV Website Bottle Shot

Nicolas Valpolicella Classico 2022

Valpolicella seems to be enjoying a bump in interest, deservedly so, as some producers of Amarone look to move to...
ANIWCC NV New Website Bottle Shot

Anselmi Capitel Croce 2022

Whites with texture. You love them or you don’t – theoretically, there is no wrong answer to that question, but...
ANIWSV NV Website Bottle Shot

Anselmi San Vincenzo 2023

Based on the region’s famous Garganega grape, this wine has almost a third of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc incorporated. This...
VEIRRO NV New Website Bottle Shot

Vespa Primitivo di Manduria 2022

Primitivo – Zinfandel as we know it – which is dubbed ‘di Manduria’, means it hails from southern Puglia. Under...
CETPVI NV Bottle Shot px x px

Campos di Viento Tempranillo 2022

Criminally underpriced, this is a ripe, delicious and ever-so-generous Tempranillo. A deep blood red hue, the nose weaves through roast...
ANSWIC Website Bottle Shot

Anselmi Capitelli 2022

An utterly delicious sweetie made from ripe Garganega, in the Passito style. The grapes will have been infected with noble...
AMTSXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Amigo de la Tierra Garnacha Tempranillo 2022

Organic Garnacha (Grenache) and Tempranillo here and they combine beautifully to make a wine that is sensationally priced. A case...
NFSPPF NV Website Bottle Shot

Nino Franco Primo Franco Prosecco 2023

The first thing consumers will notice when they look to open a bottle of this very fine Prosecco is that...
NFSPNO NV Website Bottle Shot

Nodi Franco Prosecco 2021

This is simply one of the most serious bottles of Prosecco I have ever encountered and it shows that the...
ANIWCF NV New Website Bottle Shot

Anselmi Capitel Foscarino 2023

Anselmi is one of the great names of Italian wine and for many of us, the leading producer of Soave...
VEIWBI NV New Website Bottle Shot

Vespa Bianca Terra Fiano Salento 2022

From the Puglia region of Italy and under Diam, this is a powerfully structured, and flavoured, style of white. Some...

Stories

Penfolds Collection Credit Marten Ascenzo

Penfolds 2025 – Ken Gargett

Penfolds Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling 2025 ($45)A classic Bin 51. It might be early days but this wine suggests...
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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...
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