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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.
SPEAK EASY SHZ

Speakeasy Shiraz Adelaide Hills 2017

Cooler climate Shiraz continues to excite and few regions offer so many fine examples as the Adelaide Hills. Five days...
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Speakeasy Gewürztraminer Adelaide Hills 2018

A fresh and quite elegant style of Gewürztraminer from the Adelaide Hills, the Kuitpo sub-region. After fermentation in stainless steel,...
SPEAK EASY RIESLING

Speakeasy Riesling Adelaide Hills 2018

Plenty of rain earlier in the vintage, followed by warmer conditions, enabled the wine to exhibit both elegance and ripeness....
SPEAK EASY RIESLING

Speakeasy Riesling Adelaide Hills 2019

Similar winemaking procedures as with the 2020, this has a yellow gold hue and aromas of baked lemon pies. Again,...
SPEAK EASY RIESLING

Speakeasy Riesling Adelaide Hills 2020

Adelaide Hills may not have the accolades and stellar reputation of some of the older regions when it comes to...
Juniper Crossing OriginalWhite

Juniper Estate Crossing Original White 2023

Organic viticulture is practiced in the vineyards providing the fruit for this Sem Sauv blend, we have 65% Semillon and...
Juniper Crossing Original Red

Juniper Estate Crossing Original Red 2021

Not often one finds a delicious Marg River red for under twenty bucks, don’t miss out. The blend is Cabernet...
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Coulter Wines Sangiovese Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The younger version of our local Super Tuscan previously noted, again with both varieties from the One Tree Hill Vineyard...
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Coulter Wines C6 Gamay 2023

Great to see serious winemakers taking on the Gamay challenge, for too long it has been seen as a lesser...
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Coulter Wines C3 Pinot Noir 2023

From a collection of grapes from three sub-regions in the Adelaide Hills – Balhannah, Hahndorf and Carey Gully – there...
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Coulter Wines C1 Chardonnay 2023

This is a blend of the fruit from two vineyards in the Adelaide Hills and has resulted in a most...
The Chateau Shiraz NV

Château Tanunda The Château Single Vineyard Shiraz 2022

Barossa Shiraz from a single vineyard, the Vine Vale Vineyard, with seven-day fermentation in open fermenters, followed by a year...
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Kaesler Alte Reben Shiraz 2021

Alte Reben means ‘old vines’ in German, fitting for this impressive Barossa Shiraz as the grapes here come from the...
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Tarras The Canyon Pinot Noir 2019

The team’s prestige Pinot from Central Otago, and in particular, the Bendigo sub-region. It hails from the Canyon Vineyard and...
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Tarras Kuru Kuru Pinot Noir 2018

From the Bendigo sub-region in Central Otago, the wine is matured in French oak barrels, one third of which are...
TVPNXX Website Bottle Shot

Tarras Pinot Noir 2020

The star turn from Central Otago is undoubtedly Pinot Noir and this wine, as well as others from this stable,...
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Tarras Pinot Gris 2023

This fine Pinot Gris from a single vineyard in New Zealand’s spectacular Central Otago region, in particular the Alexandra sub-region,...
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Forrest Estate Botrytised Riesling 2018

A bit of a curio from the Marlborough region but a welcome one, nonetheless. The fruit comes from three vineyards...
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Forrest Estate Chardonnay 2022

The juice here, from both the Wairau River Valley and the Southern Valleys vineyard in Marlborough, was split between new...
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Forrest Estate Riesling 2020

Forrest from Marlborough has always been well known for their Riesling (probably heresy in that district, but a lovely wine...
FOSBXX Website Bottle Shot

Forrest Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, this is the very style of wine which has taken the world by storm. From four...
Jilyara Heath Road Chardonnay

Jilyara Heath Road Chardonnay 2023

A barrel-fermented Chardonnay which undergoes regular stirring, before maturation in a mix of both new and older French oak. Quite...
Jilyara Heath Road Cabernet Sauvignon

Jilyara Heath Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The bullseye for cracking Cabernet in Margaret River is usually considered to be the subregion of Wilyabrup, home to the...
Old vine NV Hi

Kaesler Old Vine Shiraz 2021

Another superb Barossa Shiraz from this outstanding vintage. The vineyard was planted back in 1961, from cuttings of the vines...

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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