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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.
Mitolo Savitar Shiraz

Mitolo Savitar Shiraz 2020

Another superb McLaren Vale Shiraz from the Mitolo team, the name here refers to a mythical dragon which, as does...
Mitolo Angela Shiraz

Mitolo Angela Shiraz 2020

After tasting, I try and share the bottles with friends. This one, when one of my friends set eyes on...
Mitolo Marsican Shiraz

Mitolo Marsican Shiraz 2020

One of the heavy bottle brigades – expect these to go the way of the dinosaurs as we move to...
Mitolo G A M Shiraz

Mitolo G.A.M. Shiraz 2020

This terrific McLaren Vale Shiraz is named after Frank Mitolo’s Gemma, Alexander, and Marco, which seems just a tad prosaic...
Mitolo Serpico Cab Sauv

Mitolo Serpico Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

An absolutely cracking McLaren Vale Cab. Who says warm regions can’t do Cabernet? Sure, it might not be a Bordeaux...
Mitolo Harena Grenache

Mitolo Harena Grenache 2022

Apparently, ‘Harena’ is an ancient Roman word meaning arena. In Roman times, their arenas were sandy stages for gladiatorial battles....
Mitolo Jester Shiraz

Mitolo Jester Shiraz 2021

Great value McLaren Vale Shiraz from a sensational vintage. After a cool fermentation, the wine spent 14 months in a...
Mitolo Jester Sangiovese Rose

Mitolo Jester Rosé Sangiovese 2023

From McLaren Vale, this is a delightful Rosé, made from Sangiovese, which is picked early morning, destemmed, crushed and pressed...
TGB chardonnay

Settler’s Rise Terroirs of the Granite Belt Aged Reserve Chardonnay 2010

From one of the more respected small wineries on Queensland’s Granite Belt, these aged wines were crafted by Peter Scudamore...
TGB shiraz

Settler’s Rise Terroirs of the Granite Belt Aged Reserve Shiraz 2008

From the Ballandean sub-region of Queensland’s Granite Belt, there would be very few wines of this age available from the...
Moss Brothers Moses Rock Shiraz

Moss Brothers Moses Rock Margaret River Shiraz 2022

Yet another fine example of Shiraz from the Margaret River region, from yet another excellent vintage. Twelve months oak maturation,...
Byron & Harold Gravity Black Cabernet Sauvignon

Byron & Harold Gravity Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Cabernet from the Margaret River is always a crowd-pleaser and this is certainly another. A pleasing purple/mauve colour, there is...
Byron & Harold Rags to Riches Shiraz

Byron & Harold Rags to Riches Shiraz 2022

From a fine vintage in the Margaret River, this impressive Shiraz has quite a dark garnet colour. Notes of leather,...
Taltarni Pinot Noir NV

Taltarni Pinot Noir 2023

Pinot from the Pyrenees in Victoria, fermentation was in open topped vessels. A pale garnet hue, the nose gives us...
Taltarni Bottle Shot Chardonnay NV

Taltarni Chardonnay 2023

From the Pyrenees region in Victoria, the grapes received a gentle pressing before the juice was cold-settled and then fermented...
GVMEPF NV Website Bottle Shot

Le Grand Verdus Le Petite Merlot Bordeaux 2020

From the Bordeaux Superieur appellation in the Entre-Deux-Mers region, this is deep maroon in colour. An earthy, savoury style with...
GVSBPF NV Website Bottle Shot

Le Grand Verdus Le Petite Fleur Sauvignon Blanc Bordeaux 2023

A very different style of Savvy from what most local winelovers will be familiar with. From the Bordeaux Blanc appellation...
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Coulter Wines Perihelion Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2023

The aim here is very much to follow sound ecological practices and focus on sustainability, both in the vineyard and...
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Coulter Wines Perihelion Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2023

Another from the line of sustainable wines, this Adelaide Hills Pinot is a pale crimson colour. On the nose, we...
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Coulter Wines Perihelion Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

This is a bright and fresh Cabernet, full of flavour and with some real energy evident. From the Adelaide Hills,...
Driftwood T Artifacts Cab Sauv

Driftwood Artifacts Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

 Margaret River Cabernet is always a winner, this is a heavily dominant Cab, but also includes 4.5% Petit Verdot. The...
AULD FAMILY WINES ZC Edit NO Reflection Edit HighRes

Auld Wines Shiraz 2022

This is a cracking Barossa Shiraz from a superb vintage and seriously good value. The colour here is a deep...
Wilberforce Riesling NV

Auld Wines Wilberforce Eden Valley Riesling 2023

The Auld name is a famous one in Aussie wine. The name Wilberforce, perhaps less so, but Wilberforce was the...
SchildEstate OldVine Shiraz NV

Schild Estate Old Vine Barossa Shiraz 2020

Old vine Barossa Shiraz and for many winelovers, it does not get better than this. Of course, some are better...

Stories

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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...

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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