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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.
WD Yallingup The Coveted—Chardonnay()

Wills Domain Yallingup Estate The Coveted Chardonnay 2024

A fine example of Margaret River Chardonnay, still young and with a promising future ahead, the colour here is a...
Mitolo Jester Shiraz

Mitolo Jester Shiraz 2022

A delicious and good value Shiraz from McLaren Vale. Maturation is in a mix – 80/20 – of French and...
Hobbs Tin Lids Shiraz Cab Sauv

Hobbs Tin Lids Shiraz Cabernet 2023

 A dark magenta colour here, with a nose giving us notes of spices, black cherries, dried herbs, blackberries, cold tea...
Hobbs Berh Creek ShirazMontepulciano

Hobbs Behr Creek Shiraz Montepulciano 2023

Not a common blend but one which works well here. A deep maroon purple hue, the nose exhibits lifted aromatics...
Hobbs Tin Lids Shiraz Aria Secca

Hobbs Tin Lids Aria Secca 2023

This is a wine which will appeal to two (undoubtedly overlapping) groups – wine geeks and winelovers. It is a...
Mitolo Jester Grenache

Mitolo Jester Grenache 2023

The Jester series, the very name, on one hand almost condemns the wines to exclusion from consideration as serious offerings....
Mitolo Jester Cabernet Sauvignon

Mitolo Jester Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

From a cracking vintage for the McLaren Vale region, the wine spent a year maturing in a mix of 80%...
Mitolo Cinquecento Sangiovese

Mitolo Cinquecento Sangiovese 2023

I’m guessing that the name here has something to do with 500 years, but given my Italian is truly appalling,...
Mitolo Scylla Nero d'Avola

Mitolo Scylla Nero d’Avola 2023

Scylla is one of two legendary monsters from Greek mythology guarding the Strait of Messina, this one rather keen on...
Rosily TheCartographer NV

Rosily The Cartographer 2023

Apparently, the owners of Rosily are squillionaires. Otherwise, why would they be giving away their wines at such ridiculously low...
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Pech des Cadres Corbières AOP 2022

From the Corbières region, part of the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, and its low yielding vines on rocky hillsides, this...
cdrvill chenenoir

Camille Cayran Le Chêne Noir Côtes du Rhône Villages AOP 2022

This is a high quality Côtes du Rhône Villages, drinking well above its weight. From a co-operative perhaps, but clearly...
Miceli Olivias Chardonnay

Miceli Olivia’s Chardonnay 2021

Fermentation of this Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay was in oak with full malolactic as well and subsequent maturation for around twelve...
Miceli LC Pinot

Miceli Lucy’s Choice Pinot Noir 2020

Mornington Peninsula is home to some of the most exciting Pinot Noir made in this country and this one has...
Allegiance Wines L'Artiste Tumbarumba Pinot Noir NV Low Res

Allegiance Wines L’Artiste Tumbarumba Pinot Noir 2024

The fruit here hails from a single vineyard in the high altitude Tumbarumba region. It was given a three day...
Allegiance Wines Fullylove McLaren Vale Rose Low Res

Allegiance Wines Fullylove McLaren Vale Rosé 2024

100% McLaren Vale Grenache was pressed into stainless steel for a cool ferment. The colour here is a very pale...
Cox Family Wines Tumbarumba Pinot Noir NV Low Res

Cox Family Wines Tumbarumba Pinot Noir 2024

The fruit here is from the Coppabella vineyard, which sits at 600 metres above sea level, in the Tumbarumba region...
Cox Family Wines Tumbarumba Pinot Grigio NV

Cox Family Wines Tumbarumba Pinot Grigio 2024

The high altitude vineyards at Tumbarumba are proving to be most suitable for Pinot Grigio. The grapes underwent a gentle...
Allegiance Wines The Artisan McLaren Vale Grenache Low Res

Allegiance Wines The Artisan McLaren Vale Grenache 2022

The 2022 vintage followed the legendary ’21, but in McLaren Vale, it was also a superb year with its own...
Allegiance Wines The Artisan Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon low res

Allegiance Wines The Artisan Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

The fruit has been harvested from a single vineyard in the northern part of Coonawarra. The wine saw an intriguing...
Allegiance Wines Unity Tumbarumba Chardonnay Low Res

Allegiance Wines Unity Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2024

The fruit used here comes from a single vineyard in Tumbarumba which sits at 530 metres. The juice went into...
Allegiance Wines Unity McLaren Vale Shiraz Low Res

Allegiance Wines Unity McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023

The fruit for this rather exciting McLaren Vale Shiraz come from the Willunga sub-region, a single vineyard planted back in...
Allegiance Wines Unity Coonawarra Caberent Sauvignon Low Res

Allegiance Wines Unity Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

From a vineyard planted in the northern reaches of Coonawarra in 1988, maturation was for eighteen months in an even...
Pirramimma Heritage Limited Edition Cabernet Shiraz

Pirramimma Heritage Cabernet Shiraz 2021

Anytime you see 2021 on a label for a red from McLaren Vale, your eyes should really light up. I...

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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