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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.
PCSACA NV Website Bottle Shot

Astrale Chianti 2022

Jump on this. Chianti from a top-notch vintage for this price? A maroon/plum hue, savoury in style with hints of...
PCRBRO NV Website Bottle Shot

Astrale Vino Rosso d’Italia  

Dark garnet in colour, this is an earthy, meaty style of red, slightly rustic – some will be put off...
PCSACR NV Website Bottle Shot

Astrale Chianti Riserva 2019

Top level Chianti from a highly regarded vintage, this is serious stuff. Deep garnet hue, there are notes of undergrowth,...
JQSPMO NV Website Bottle Shot

Jacquart Mosaique NV

A famous old Champagne house, this is a non-vintage release from them, representing both flavour and value. How soon before...
MESPXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Mezza Extra Dry NV

From the Trentino region in northern Italy, perhaps better known as the Dolomites, this attractive sparkler is 60% Chardonnay, 30%...
MESPRO NV Website Bottle Shot

Mezza Italian Glacial Bubbly NV

Another delightfully appealing fizz, the colour here is a gold/orange blush. There are floral and herb notes, with a pleasing...
NFSPRU NV Website Bottle Shot

Nino Franco Rustico Valdobbiadene DOCG NV

A top quality Prosecco from a highly respected producer in an attractive lemon colour. The nose offers spices, dry herbs,...
PCSPPR NV Website Bottle Shot

Astrale Prosecco NV

An attractively labelled Prosecco, the wine offers a gleaming yellow/gold hue. The winemaker here has extensive experience in both Italy...
HGSPXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Highgate Chardonnay Pinot Noir NV

A pleasing local sparkler, a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Deep gold and yellow colour, the nose offers attractive...
CDROLR NV Website Bottle Shot

La Resistance Cotes du Rhône Rosé de L’enclove 2022

Organic Rosé from the Rhône Valley, this has an appealing orange/pink hue. Spices, florals, rose petals and a note like...
MossBrothers Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Moss Brothers Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2023

To add complexity to this much-loved style, a portion was fermented with wild yeasts in oak. A very pale lemon...
Riesling olga

Pikes Olga Emmie Riesling 2023

This is based on a half dry Spatlese style from Germany, so we have gentle sweetness. It is a refreshing...
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Pikes The Merle Riesling 2023

This is always one of the very best Clare Valley Rieslings, year in and year out. It never fails. And...
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Pikes Traditionale Riesling 2023

Another superb, though cooler, vintage for this much-loved Clare Valley classic, the 39th release. It remains as consistent as ever...
NV Puppet Master Pinot Gris x

Puppet Master Pinot Gris 2022

Umberto Eco’s ‘The Name of the Rose’, is the winery’s choice for reading with a glass of this fine West...
Burch PuppetMaster PinotNoir NV x

Puppet Master Pinot Noir 2022

Apparently, a wine to enjoy while reading Orwell’s ‘1984’, which is a rather scary thought. Pale crimson in colour, this...
Puppetmaster Grenache NV x

Puppet Master Grenache 2022

It has been a delightful surprise to see just how well Grenache is doing over in the West in recent...
MadFish Gold Turtle Pinot Gris NV x

Madfish Gold Turtle Pinot Gris 2023

From an array of top Western Australian regions – Manjimup, Pemberton, Frankland River and Margaret River – the team make...
MadFish Gold Turtle Grenache x

Madfish Gold Turtle Swan Valley Grenache 2022

The Swan Valley is the source for Grenache here and proves to be a fine one. This is seriously good...
Puppet Master NV Prosecco x

Puppet Master Prosecco NV

The winery suggests that with this fine local offering, one should read Jules Verne’s famous ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues under the...
NV MadFish Prosecco AUS x

Madfish Prosecco NV

This is a pale lemon hue and whilst made in a style that might be simple, it provides simply delicious...
MadFish GoldTurtle Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot x

Madfish Gold Turtle Margaret River Cabernet Merlot 2021

A classic Margaret River blend here, this is a burly, muscular style of Cabernet. Dark red fruits, violets, dry herbs,...
Bethany Wines Blue Quarry Grenache

Bethany Blue Quarry Old Vines Grenache 2022

As much as I loved the team’s First Village Grenache, this is a step up. A really exciting Barossa Grenache...
Bethany Wines First Village Grenache

Bethany First Village Grenache 2022

A gorgeous Barossa Grenache, grab it for now or squirrel a few cases away in the cellar for the years...

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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