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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.
Y SERIES LIGHTER CUVEE

Y Series Lighter Cuvée 7% NV

The trend to non-alcoholic wine has seen a push for some lower alcohol styles as well. Kudos to the winemakers...
Y Series Shiraz Lighter

Y Series Lighter Shiraz 8% 2023

This is definitely worth grabbing, but note that the 2024 is about to hit the shelves as well. 8% alcohol,...
Y Series Pinot Noir

Y Series Pinot Noir 2024

Many will recall that a decade or two ago, the standard complaint for Pinot Noir was that there was no...
Y Series Tempranillo

Y Series Tempranillo 2022

This is an interesting version of a local Tempranillo. To be honest, it did not do a lot for me...
Churchview SOLI Shiraz

Churchview Soli Shiraz 2023

This bright and flavoursome Margaret River Shiraz saw time in a mix of older French and American oak. The colour...
Churchview St John's Malbec

Churchview Limited Release Malbec 2023

Solo Malbec is always interesting to taste as it can be a difficult wine to do well. Here, it succeeds....
Churchview St John's CabBlend

Churchview Limited Release Cabernet Malbec Merlot Petit Verdot 2023

A typical Bordeaux blend from a region that does the style wonderfully well, Margaret River. The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon,...
Churchview St John's Shiraz Viognier

Churchview Limited Release Shiraz Viognier 2023

Gorgeous aromatics here with this blend. It is purple/magenta in colour and the nose weaves through florals, mulberries, raspberries, cherries...
Churchview St John's GSM

Churchview Limited Release Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre 2022

An uncommon, at least for the region, blend of these three grapes, all of which were fermented and aged discreetly,...
Churchview St John's Marsanne

Churchview Limited Release Wild Fermented Marsanne 2024

If I have ever seen a Marsanne from Margaret River, I certainly can’t recall it (whether that reflects badly on...
Churchview St John's Chenin Blanc

Churchview Limited Release Wild Fermented Chenin Blanc 2023

If ever a grape’s popularity was not matched by its quality, surely it is Chenin. Good Chenin so rarely grabs...
Churchview St John's Riesling

Churchview Limited Release Wild Fermented Riesling 2023

An appealing Riesling here, albeit one which has enjoyed some less traditional winemaking methods than is usual for Aussie Riesling....
Churchview SOLI Cabernet Sauvignon

Churchview Soli Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Good value Margaret River Cabernet, with a deep maroon hue, the nose gives us aromas of cigar boxes, cherries, dried...
Churchview SOLI Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Churchview Soli Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2024

Certified organic, this is a typical Margaret River version of the old classic dry white blend – Savvy and Sem....
Churchview SOLI Chardonnay

Churchview Soli Chardonnay 2024

A deep yellow hue here for this enjoyable Margaret River Chardy. The nose gives us hints of nuts along with...
Churchview SOLI Grenache

Churchview Soli Grenache 2024

Margaret River Grenache is not a commonly encountered beast but surely an intriguing one. This is actually verging more on...
McLaren Vale Regional Selection NV()

Angove McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022

McLaren Vale Shiraz from an excellent vintage, it includes parcels of old vines. This is deep maroon in colour, and...
Voodoo Child Chardonnay ()

Claymore Voodoo Child Chardonnay 2024

Love the label – these guys so often offer fabulous labels, but fortunately, they also offer bottles with cracking wines...
Craneford Basket Pressed Shiraz

Craneford Barossa Shiraz 2021

The wines from the stupendous 2021 vintage, from a number of regions, of which the Barossa must surely be to...
Lupo Shiraz

Mitolo Lupo Shiraz 2022

A fresh and delicious version of McLaren Vale Shiraz, this has a dark maroon colour. The nose gives us notes...
Savitar Shiraz New Label with emboss

Mitolo Savitar Shiraz 2021

Apparently Savitar is a mythical dragon. Nothing too mythical about the wine, it is real and really good drinking. It...
Serpico Cabernet Sauvignon New Label with emboss

Mitolo Serpico Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

We are into the Mitolo big guns here, a collection from the superb 2021 vintage, one of McLaren Vale’s best....
Mitolo Angela Shiraz

Mitolo Angela Shiraz 2021

Angela is the Mitolo family matriarch (and presumably completely unrelated in every way from Scylla). One presumes she must be...
G A M Shiraz New Label with emboss

Mitolo G. A. M. Shiraz 2021

A cracking McLaren Vale Shiraz from a brilliant year, the name comes from founder Frank Mitolo’s three children, Gemma, Alexander...

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...
MartenAscenzo Penfolds PenfoldsMediaPreview D

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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