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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.
HC Springer

Hare’s Chase The Springer Shiraz 2020

 Sourced from a number of growers across the Barossa Valley, the colour offers a deep purple hue. Notes of cassis,...
HC ROSE NV

Hare’s Chase Mataro Rosé 2023

An attractive blend of Barossa Valley Mataro and Cinsaut – all very Provencal – destemmed and pressed with the aim...
Palliser Estate White Label Chardonnay

Palliser Estate White Label Chardonnay 2022

Martinborough might be best known for its superb Pinots, but there are many excellent Chardonnays found here as well. Recent...
Palliser Estate White Label Chardonnay

Palliser Estate White Label Chardonnay 2021

Terrific vintage in the Martinborough region has given us this cracking young and fresh Chardonnay. Deep lemon colour here, this...
Palliser Estate White Label Pinot Noir

Palliser Estate White Label Pinot Noir 2022

Martinborough is one of New Zealand’s great Pinot Noir regions and Palliser has been making superb examples for many years....
Palliser Estate White Label Pinot Noir

Palliser Estate White Label Pinot Noir 2021

An appealing maroon colour, the nose is full of spices, redcurrants, plums and bacon fat. Again, a savoury style of...
Youll Never Walk Alone GSM LW

Claymore You’ll Never Walk Alone Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2022

Every year, this wine causes me issues. Not the wine itself – it is always delicious drinking. But the link...
Who Are You Shiraz Mataro

Claymore Who Are You? Shiraz Mataro 2021

A cracking Shiraz Mataro blend from the Clare Valley, from a superb vintage, celebrating The Who’s famous song, ‘Who Are...
il padrone NV ()

Haselgrove Il Padrone Shiraz 2021

The wine spends twenty months in French oak, new and older, before barrel selection provides the final blend. Dark maroon...
Bella Vigna Reserve Parcel Shiraz

Haselgrove Bella Vigna Reserve Parcel Shiraz 2021

The 2021 vintage continues to give us stunning wines from this famous region and this is no exception. The wine...
Barbera

Haselgrove McLaren Vale Barbera 2023

Part of the team’s Alternative Series, which involves small quantities of wines from McLaren Vale which reflect what one might...
Estate Riesling

Crabtree Estate Riesling Watervale 2023

The fruit has been sourced from estate vineyards, from vines between two and five decades of age. A delightful and...
Semillon

Crabtree Watervale Semillon 2023

Only made in top years in the Clare, and 2023 is certainly that, the fruit comes from a vineyard in...
Rosé

Crabtree Watervale Rosé 2023

This is Crabtree’s first Grenache only Rosé. It has an alluring gentle pale pink colour and gives off notes of...
CapeBarren RareBird Shiraz

Cape Barren Rare Bird Shiraz 2018

The vines for this prestige Shiraz from McLaren Vale are all thirty-five years and older. The wine enjoyed fifteen days...
CapeBarren OldVine Shiraz

Cape Barren McLaren Vale Old Vines Shiraz 2019

This wine came from a mix of twenty selected French and American oak hogsheads. Deep maroon in hue, the extra...
CapeBarren NativeGoose Shiraz

Cape Barren McLaren Vale Native Goose Shiraz 2021

McLaren Vale Shiraz from a great vintage at this price – what is not to love? Opaque maroon in colour,...
CapeBarren NativeGoose CabSav

Cape Barren McLaren Vale Native Goose Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

This McLaren Vale Cabernet is good evidence that warm regions can make delicious Cabernet, even if it is different to...
CapeBarren NativeGoose ShirazGrenache

Cape Barren McLaren Vale Native Goose Shiraz Grenache 2021

Terrific value to be found here in this sumptuous blend of Shiraz and Grenache from McLaren Vale. Deep garnet in...
Ulithorne Paternus CabShiraz

Ulithorne Paternus Coonawarra McLaren Vale Cabernet Shiraz 2020

The wine is predominantly Coonawarra Cabernet, supported with a little McLaren Vale Shiraz. It is undoubtedly a wine built for...
Ulithorne Epoch Rose

Ulithorne Epoch Rosé 2023

Delicious rosé from a single vineyard in McLaren Vale. It is made from 100% Mourvèdre, which receives just four hours...
Reschke RSR Cabernet

Reschke R.S.R. Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

R.S.R. stands for Reschke Special Reserve and there is little doubt that this is a bit special. The grapes are...
Stonehaven Stepping Stone Riesling

Stonehaven Stepping Stone Riesling 2023

A blend of Coonawarra and Padthaway fruit, the wine uses free run juice after a cool fermentation. This is a...
Stonehaven Stepping Stone Malbec

Stonehaven Stepping Stone Malbec 2022

The fruit here comes from a combination of vineyards in Mundulla and Padthaway. Opaque purple in colour, love the perfumes...

Stories

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...

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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