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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.
Craneford Fire Station Shiraz

Craneford Firestation Barossa Shiraz 2019

The team’s flagship is a very fine Shiraz, but for me, it still needs time. At the moment, I’d opt...
Craneford No Shiraz

Craneford Number No 1 Limited Edition Shiraz 2021

This is something really special. Granted, not priced for everyday drinking, but it is a bargain when compared to many...
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Schoolhouse Block C1 Coonawarra Cabernet 2021

Coonawarra Cabernet has long been one of the great wine styles of the world. Inky maroon in colour, the nose...
Three Springs Shiraz

Schild Estate Three Springs Shiraz 2021

This vineyard sits at 380 metres above sea level, in the Rowland Flat sub-region, Narrow Road to be specific. It...
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Schild Estate Barossa GSM 2022

A very impressive example of the famous Rhone/Barossa blend (I think that they have been doing it for long enough...
Ulithorne Singularis Shiraz

Ulithorne Singularis Shiraz 2021

A prestige release which enjoys more time in the cellar than most and it reveals the benefits of that. The...
Cape Barren TheVale Shiraz

Cape Barren The Vale Shiraz 2021

Only eighteen barrels of this fine McLaren Vale Shiraz are made, from this stellar vintage. Under diam. The colour is...
Lange Estate Providence Road Riesling

Lange Estate Providence Road Riesling 2024

Frankland River Riesling is now more than a well established category, providing so many scintillating wines in recent years. Riesling...
Lange Estate Providence Road Chardonnay

Lange Estate Providence Road Chardonnay 2023

This fine Frankland River Chardonnay spent six months maturing in French oak before bottling. Fermentation had already taken place in...
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Dog Ridge Original Plantings Shiraz 2016

Few places do Shiraz as well as McLaren Vale and a few years in the cellar confirm the benefits of...
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Hastwell & Lightfoot Sands of Time Shiraz 2020

A fine McLaren Vale Shiraz with great promise for the future but also providing pleasure at the moment. This is...
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Hastwell & Lightfoot Once Around the Sun Shiraz Cabernet 2020

The great Aussie red blend, attractively packaged, with only 140 cases made. Crimson red hue, the nose gives us raspberries,...
Henriot Brut Souverain Packshot Bouteille

Henriot Brut Souverain NV

The House has always been well regarded for its use of reserve wines and the current release confirms that. Elegantly...
Barolo

Renato Corino Barolo del Commune di la Morra 2020

From the highly regarded La Morra commune, this is a pale garnet. The nose exhibits undergrowth notes, warm earth, truffles,...
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Domaine Elodie Roy Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2022

2022 is proving to be an exciting vintage across Burgundy and this producer has some fine offerings. One could argue...
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Peregrine Pinot Noir Central Otago 2021

A highly regarded Central Otago producer of fine Pinot Noir for many years now, this is a wine which will...
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Domaine Elodie Roy Santenay Les Gravières 2022

A premier cru Burgundy from Santenay, this is a real step up and seriously impressive. Les Gravières is a vineyard...
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Claymore Dark Side of the Moon Clare Shiraz 2022

The only thing that this wine will please more than the crowd are the wallets they carry. This is always...
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Claymore Superstition Watervale Riesling 2024

The fruit here is from a single vineyard located in the Watervale sub-region of the Clare Valley, from vines in...
Tbone Shiraz

T-Bone Full Bodied Shiraz 2023

This wine is more like it when it comes to the concept of full bodied, and it is cracking value...
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Domaine Elodie Roy Hautes Côtes de Beaune 2022

Selected from three blocks, the team use no oak here. This is simply good fruit, which has nowhere to hide,...
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Dog Ridge Original Plantings Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

From McLaren Vale, always a joy to see wines given the opportunity to develop some complexity and maturity before release....
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T-Bone Full Bodied Pinot Noir 2024

 I am not completely convinced that I would put this in the full bodied category, but it is certainly full...
Reschke RSeries Chardonnay

Reschke R-Series Chardonnay 2024

Chardonnay is a grape which has proven itself to be well suited to the Limestone Coast region and this is...

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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