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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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3 Rings Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

The subsequent vintage, another fine one even if not with the same stellar pedigree as 2022. That said, the wine...
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3 Rings Shiraz 2022

This really is fabulous buying. Twenty bucks and a wine which will elevate your everyday drinking or seriously impress your...
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Biscay Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

 A step up here for the Biscay Road range, with this fine Cabernet spending a year and a half in...
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3 Rings Shiraz 2023

A similar fruit source and winemaking treatment as the previous vintage, the colour here is a crimson maroon. The nose...
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Curtis Family Cavaliere GSM 2021

The cavalcade of cracking reds from the 2021 vintage, from McLaren Vale (and Barossa) continues, but be warned, they won’t...
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Curtis Family Legion Merlot 2022

A deep red/crimson hue, the nose reveals attractive aromatic notes of florals, bay leaves, black cherries, violets, licorice, plums, raspberries...
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Curtis Family Legion Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Warm climate Cabernet from a cracking vintage, this is seriously good value for those looking for a top-notch drink. Deep...
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Curtis Family Pasha McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021

The team look to this wine as a return to the old ways, the “glory days”, which should cue everyone...
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Curtis Family Limited Series Grenache 2021

 If ever there was a safe bet, it has to be the delicious reds from McLaren Vale and the Barossa...
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Curtis Family Gladiator McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021

Before anyone goes all Russell Crowe, this superb McLaren Vale red is all Australian in every way (okay, a mix...
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John Hill Wines McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023

John Hill was the bosun on the HMS Buffalo, which arrived as part of the establishment of the colony of...
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John Hill Wines McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022

As with all this range, the wine is under cork. The colour is a deep magenta, while the nose exhibits...
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John Hill Wines McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021

An opaque maroon hue, the structure here is plush and seductive. A seriously sexy style of red. The nose reveals...
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Gudilly by Sorby Adams Single Vineyard Pinot Chardonnay NV

An Eden Valley sparkler, 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, this is based on the 2019 vintage with contributions from...
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Gudilly by Sorby Adams Single Vineyard Pinot Gris 2023

The name, ‘Gudilly’ comes from a mash-up of Simon Adams’ children, Angus (presumably Gus), Digby and Sally. The fruit here...
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Mario Giribaldi Barolo Ravera Riserva 2013

A brilliant Barolo with more than a decade in age already under its belt. Drinking beautifully now, but it certainly...
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Mario Giribaldi Barolo Cerviano Merli Riserva 2016

Amongst an array of stellar vintages over the last decade and more, none surpass 2016 – it is already legendary....
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Mario Giribaldi Barolo Ravera DOCG 2018

This is a vintage which imbues its wines with a pleasing elegance. A red/orange rim here, with a nose that...

Cimicky Shiraz Cellar Selection 2020

Fine Barossa Shiraz which spent eighteen to twenty-four months in oak barrels and is bottled under cork. The colour is...

Cimicky Shiraz Cellar Selection 2021

From a stellar Barossa vintage, the team have moved to screw cap here. The wine spent eighteen to twenty-six months...
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Vintage Breeze Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

From McLaren Vale, the wine spent time maturing in French oak. A near opaque maroon hue, the wine is ripe,...
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Vintage Breeze Reserve Shiraz 2022

Shiraz from McLaren Vale which has spent time maturing in French oak, this is a deep red/maroon hue. The nose...
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Pioneer Road Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

From a truly cracking vintage in the Barossa Valley, this wine spent twenty months in a combination of French and...
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Pioneer Road Malbec 2022

A deeply flavoured Malbec from the Langhorne Creek region, this is a gleaming purple. Ripe, intense and with big, rich,...

Stories

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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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