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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.
Reynella McLaren Vale Shiraz mL

Reynella Shiraz 2019

It is always fun to compare the same wine from different vintages. Looking at this and the 2018 of the...
Reynella McLaren Vale Shiraz mL

Reynella Shiraz 2018

This is old school Aussie wine with a pleasing modern touch. Reynella in McLaren Vale is very much part of...
Zema Estate Sauvignon Blanc px

Zema Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Coonawarra is not the first place we think of for Sauvignon Blanc, but that does not mean we can’t find...
Zema Estate Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon hpx

Zema Estate Family Selection Coonawarra Cabernet 2018

This is a seriously good Coonawarra Cabernet and a very well-priced one. A case or two of this in the...
Zema Estate Rose px

Zema Estate Rosé 2023

Made from 100% Shiraz, from the Coonawarra region, the aim was to retain freshness and aromas – Nick and the...
Zema Estate Family Selection Shiraz hpx

Zema Estate Family Selection Coonawarra Shiraz 2018

Nowadays, Coonawarra and Cabernet seem inextricably linked, but there was a time when the grape that starred in this region...
Bottleshot cab

Fuddling Cup Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Bigger, richer and more powerful, in keeping with the style of vintage, this is again from the famed sub-region of...
Bottleshot cab

Fuddling Cup Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

There are heavier and bigger Margaret River Cabs than this example, but put that down to a slightly more elegant...
Bottleshot cab

Fuddling Cup Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Margaret River Cabernet proves time and time again that it really deserves the pedestal on which has been placed. From...
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Fuddling Cup Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2016

A mature example of the Sem Savvy blend from the West, which has also seen a touch of French oak...
Bottleshot Fuddling Cup SSB

Fuddling Cup Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2019

The famous West Australian Classic Dry White blend from Margaret River. Of the currently released trio with some development, this...
Bottleshot Fuddling Cup SSB

Fuddling Cup Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Spending five months in French oak has given this Semillon Sauvignon Blanc from Margaret River a little more depth and...
Troublemaker bottle shiraz

Curtis Trouble Maker Sauvignon Blanc 2023

A pale lemon/lime hue here, this is an attractive Savvy. We have notes of citrus and spices, cut grass and...
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Curtis Ancestor McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021

Under Diam, this is from a cracking vintage. A McLaren Shiraz which is powerful and powerfully flavoured, from older vines,...
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Curtis Nut House Wine Shiraz 2021

No doubt there is a reason for the name – just not one with which I am familiar. No matter,...
Parishes Cabernet Shiraz

Parishes Cabernet Shiraz 2021

The great Aussie red wine blend, justifiably famous and much loved, takes on a little extra sheen when it is...
Parishes Merlot

Parishes Merlot 2022

Lovely, delicious and approachable Merlot from Langhorne Creek. The wine spent a year and a half in oak. Dark maroon...
Mattiske Shiraz

Chateau Tanunda Mattiske Shiraz 2021

Barossa Shiraz from the famed Stonewell sub-region, in a vineyard adjacent to Mattiske Road, the grapes were destemmed but not...
Lloyd Brothers Western Block Reserve Shiraz Web

Lloyd Brothers Shiraz Western Block 2 2021

This is the prestige release from the team with the fruit, from this wonderful vintage, coming from Block 2 on...
Lloyd Brothers McLaren Vale Estate Shiraz Web

Lloyd Brothers Estate Shiraz McLaren Vale 2022

Quality fruit from a top region and a great vintage. As they say in the classics, what is not to...
Hills & Coast McLaren Vale Shiraz NV Web

Lloyd Brothers Hills & Coast Shiraz McLaren Vale 2022

A very dark maroon/purple colour here. The nose gives us concentrated notes of dried herbs, chocolate, plums, spices, coffee grinds,...
Lloyd Brothers Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir Syrah Web

Lloyd Brothers Pinot Noir Syrah Adelaide Hills 2022

An intriguing blend here, one which was quite popular many decades ago. 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Syrah, wines like...
Lloyd Brothers Adelaide Hills Syrah Web

Lloyd Brothers Syrah Adelaide Hills 2022

An opaque magenta here, the nose reveals notes of warm earth, dark berries, cloves, leather, spices, chocolate and aniseed, there...
Kirrihill CVCab NV

Kirrihill Regional Series Clare Cabernet 2022

The team selected fruit from several Cabernet sites in the Clare Valley which then underwent small batch fermentation for eight...

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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