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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.
CAPE LANDING Blackwood Shiraz

Cape Landing Blackwood Shiraz 2022

Inky purple here, with notes of blackberries, plums, chocolate, coffee grinds, soy and bay leaves. There is a hint of...
Cape Landing Blackwood Syrah

Cape Landing Blackwood Syrah 2020

The team use a mix of equal quantities whole bunch and destemmed berries. There follows ten months maturation in French...
Cape Landing Reserve Chardonnay

Cape Landing Reserve Chardonnay 2022

The team like to describe their Chardonnay as the equivalent of an artist’s palette, thanks to an array of different...
Cape Landing Blackwood Chardonnay

Cape Landing Blackwood Chardonnay 2022

One of those Chardonnays you just know is going to look even better down the track. If patience is not...
Cape Landing Blackwood Silver eye Sauv Blanc

Cape Landing Silver Eyes Sauvignon Blanc 2022

I thought that the previous vintage of this wine was one of the best Savvys in the line-ups from earlier...
JKW Short Stories Field Blend (Pinot Gris+)

Short Stories Mt Benson Pinot Gris Field Blend 2023

While Pinot Gris may take centre stage here, it is joined by both Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The wine enjoys...
JKW Short Stories GSM NV HR

Short Stories Barossa GSM 2022

The traditional Rhône blend done Barossa style, with the fruit spending some time maturing in large format French oak and...
Pewsey Vale Block Riesling No Vintage

Pewsey Vale 1961 Block Riesling 2022

From the vines in their single site Eden Valley vineyard which were planted back in 1961 (the oldest remaining vines...
Ringbolt CabernetSauvignon NV

Ringbolt Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

The fruit for this excellent value Margaret River Cabernet is mostly sourced from around the Wilyabrup sub-region. Deep maroon hue....
Pewsey Vale Estate Riesling No Vintage

Pewsey Vale Estate Riesling 2023

Pewsey Vale does nothing but Riesling and they do it extremely well. No surprise with a winemaker like Louisa Rose...
Darkside of the Moon NV Square (winepilot)

Claymore Dark Side of the Moon Shiraz 2021

One always tries to taste without any idea of the price (not always as easy as you might think). So,...
Joshua Tree Square (winepilot)

Claymore Joshua Tree Riesling 2023

This 25th anniversary release comes from such an exciting Clare Valley vintage that offer stunning value – stock the cellar!...
Koonowla Rose

Koonowla Reverence Clare Rosé 2021

Merlot is not a common choice for Rosé, but there seems no reason it shouldn’t be. Certainly works here with...
koonowla cv rose front

Koonowla Reverence Clare Rosé 2022

For me, this more recent vintage is a step up in the Rosé stakes, but personal preference will decide. Both...
Bottle photography as refined as your wine by CSP Creative

Koonowla Reverence Clare Shiraz 2019

The three vineyards used for this thoroughly enjoyable Shiraz hail from Auburn (two) with the final component from the legendary...
Bottle photography as refined as your wine by CSP Creative

Koonowla Reverence Clare Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

It is always an intriguing argument. Does the Clare Valley do better Cabernet or Shiraz? Needless to say, opinions vary...
Bottle photography as refined as your wine by CSP Creative

Koonowla Reverence Clare Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

The colour here is a deep blood red. Another fine Clare Valley Cabernet with this example showing some red fruit...
Malbec trans

Georges Malbec 2019

A single vineyard Malbec, from the Bass Hill Vineyard, this shows another side of the Clare Valley. It is fast...
Bottle photography as refined as your wine by CSP Creative

Koonowla The Tiller Shiraz 2020

The fruit for this classic Clare Shiraz hails from the estate’s block in the Armagh sub-region. Maturation was in French...
Bottle photography as refined as your wine by CSP Creative

Koonowla Shiraz Mataro Single Vineyard 2020

Another very fine example of Clare Valley Mataro. Purple/maroon in colour, the nose gives us spices, bay leaves, dry herbs,...
Bottle photography as refined as your wine by CSP Creative

Koonowla Bass Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Mataro Petit Verdot 2020

The Bass Hill Vineyard provides the fruit for many of the team’s top wines, both those which are straight varietals...
Mataro trans

Georges Mataro 2019

Varietal Mataro rarely seems to be more than an occasional cameo to round out a portfolio. This one is most...
koonowla cv rieslilng front fx

Koonowla Reverence Clare Riesling 2023

Another very fine Riesling from the 2023 vintage out of the Clare Valley. This is a pale lemon hue, with...
Fontavera D

Fontavera delle Venezia Pinot Grigio 2022

Fermentation for this most authentic Pinot Grigio is all in stainless steel, to retain freshness. The grapes were sourced from...

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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