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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.
Bethany First Village Eden Valley Riesling

Bethany First Village Eden Valley Riesling 2023

More great Riesling from the very fine 2023 vintage. A cool fermentation in stainless steel before early bottling to preserve...
Bethany Wines First Village GSM

Bethany First Village Barossa GSM 2022

The parcels for this cracking Barossa blend were all treated individually with varying times on skins. After blending, the wine...
genista noble spar shir white hires

Genista Noble Sparkling Shiraz NV

If ever there was a wine which epitomised the concept of love-it-or-hate-it, it must be sparkling Shiraz. I have friends...
genista shir gren white hires

Genista Barossa Shiraz Grenache Rosé 2023

The versatility of Grenache to the fore again! This is a bright burnt ochre colour. A lifted nose, quite pungent,...
credaro

Credaro Margaret River 1000 Crowns Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

This is an elegant style of Cabernet, deep garnet in hue. It retains varietal integrity with notes of tobacco leaves,...
Credaro Crowns Chardonnay

Credaro Margaret River 1000 Crowns Chardonnay 2022

An impressive Chardonnay from Margaret River, this is a gleaming yellow colour with flecks of lime. It is richly flavoured...
Credaro Crowns Shiraz

Credaro Margaret River 1000 Crowns Shiraz 2021

A purple/maroon hue here with notes of plums and mulberries to the fore along with a red jellybean character. Cloves,...
Byron & Harold The Partners Shiraz

Byron & Harold The Partners Shiraz 2022

A serious example of Shiraz from Western Australia here. Sourced from the Great Southern, just 3,881 bottles were made. Dark...
Byron & Harold Tandem Shiraz

Byron & Harold Tandem Shiraz 2021

Great flavour to price ratio here. We see more and more fine Margaret River Shiraz. this one is a vibrant...
Byron & Harold Tandem Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Byron & Harold Tandem Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2023

Once a classic white blend which helped drive the fortunes of the Margaret River, this remains a popular style. Very...
IHANAshiraz

Oliver’s Taranga Ihana 2022

Only 5,000 bottles are made of the Oliver’s premium red, a stunning McLaren Vale Shiraz given the Finnish name ‘Ihana’,...
Grenache

Oliver’s Taranga Grenache 2023

It is very easy to gloss over the glories of a wine because it is good value, suited to sharing...
Tempranillo

Oliver’s Taranga Tempranillo 2023

Another Spanish star, Tempranillo may be more at home in Rioja but is really making waves down here and McLaren...
Mencia

Oliver’s Taranga Mencia 2023

A long way from its Spanish home, but seemingly perfectly happy, this is a wine definitely worth seeking out. The...
BrionisBlend

Oliver’s Taranga Brioni’s Blend 2023

Interesting blend here from McLaren Vale with 55% Mataro, 24% Touriga and 21% Shiraz. This is the fourth release of...
ChicaRose

Oliver’s Taranga Chica Rosé 2023

A blend of Mencia, an emerging Spanish variety, and Shiraz, this delightful Rosé is a pale pink salmon hue. This...
Fiano

Oliver’s Taranga Fiano 2023

Another fine Italian white variety, this time from the Campagna region, which has found a home in McLaren Vale –...
Vermentino

Oliver’s Taranga Vermentino 2023

McLaren Vale is proving to be an ideal home for this beloved Italian white variety. This wine is part of...
The Broken Fishplate Sauvignon Blanc

D’Arenberg Broken Fishplate Sauvignon Blanc 2023

A fine Savvy from the Adelaide Hills from an excellent vintage. A small part of the wine was fermented in...
The Dry Dam Riesling new PNG

D’Arenberg The Dry Dam Riesling 2023

A blend of fruit from McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills, not the most common pairing but one that works...
d’Arry’s Original Grenache Shiraz New PNG

D’Arenberg D’arry’s Original Grenache Shiraz 2020

Small batch fermentation here, which includes a portion of foot treading and time in a mix of new and seasoned...
The Footbolt Shiraz New PNG

D’Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz 2021

A cracking value McLaren Vale Shiraz from a top vintage, what more could you really want? Open fermenters for small...
The Custodian Grenache New PNG

D’Arenberg Custodian Grenache 2020

A superb McLaren Vale Grenache, which sees open fermenters, foot treading, basket pressing and time in seasoned French oak. A...
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Shiraz Bottle Shot

Leeuwin Estate Art Series Shiraz 2021

How easily we forget the glories of Margaret River Shiraz, so often overshadowed by its more noble sibling, Cabernet. Wines...

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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