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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.
YL Chardonnay SD

Yarraloch Chardonnay 2021

If anyone ever lost track of just how good the Yarra Valley can be for Chardonnay, the wines from this...
YL Chardonnay SD

Yarraloch Stephanie’s Dream Chardonnay 2021

This is the team’s pointy end Chardy and deservedly so. A cracking wine. Pale lemon gold in colour, with hints...
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Pikes Traditionale Riesling 2024

If there is a more reliable wine, which can provide better value than this one, anywhere in Australia, please let...
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Pikes The Merle Riesling 2024

While the Traditionale is regularly one of the very best in its price bracket (and often well above it), The...
Il Premio Sangiovese small file size

Pikes Il Premio Sangiovese 2022

This price for an Aussie Sangiovese is really throwing down the gauntlet to Tuscany. There is nowhere to hide if...
The EWP Shiraz small file size

Pikes The EWP Shiraz 2022

Barrel selection is undertaken to compose this very fine Shiraz from their estate in the Polish Hill River sub-region. This...
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Pikes The Hill Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

From one of their oldest estate vineyards, now forty plus years of age, the cooler nature found here is partly...
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Pikes The Vanguard Cabernet 2021

Always very exciting to see a brand new wine from a top-notch producer, especially when it comes in as their...
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Curtis Cavaliere McLaren Vale GSM 2021

The famous Rhone blend done McLaren Vale style. And done seriously well. The colour here is a deep blood red....
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Curtis Ancestor McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021

For me, this is the best Ancestor Shiraz from these guys I have yet encountered. In fairness, with the quality...
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Curtis Pasha McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019

The team notes that this wine is their homage to ‘old school’, to the glory days (which seems appropriate as,...
Pepper Tree Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra

Pepper Tree Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A most appealing Coonawarra Cabernet from a thrilling vintage. Blood red in colour, there are dense fruit notes here. We...
TamarRidgeGrandAssemblage PinotNoir ml FOP

Tamar Ridge Grand Assemblage Pinot Noir 2022

A pale crimson colour for this Tassie Pinot, the wine is beautifully fragrant and a classically appealing Pinot. There are...
Woodvale Spring Gardens Shiraz

Woodvale Spring Gardens Shiraz 2022

Sourced from a pair of Clare Valley vineyards – one located in the Armagh sub-region and the other in the...
Woodvale Orchard Road Cabernet Sauvignon

Woodvale Orchard Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The fruit here has been sourced from three discrete sites across the Clare Valley, and after fermentation it was basket...
Woodvale Sharegarden Cabernet Sauvignon

Woodvale Sharegarden Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

This fine Clare Valley Cab Sauv has a dark cherry hue. The nose gives us spices, dried herbs, beefstock notes,...
Woodvale Sharegarden Shiraz

Woodvale Sharegarden Shiraz 2020

The wine is sourced from various vineyards which are kept separate until the final blending, by which time they have...
Aldersey Shiraz

Ivyburn Aldersey Shiraz 2021

The vines used here grow in the Willunga sub-region of McLaren Vale. The colour here is a mix of blue/black/purple...
ThePioneer Shiraz

Ivyburn The Pioneer Shiraz 2021

From vines in the Blewett Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale, this is under diam. A near black colour here, this...
FirstMinister Shiraz

Ivyburn First Minister McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022

From a really exciting vintage for the McLaren Vale region, the colour here is a dark mauve. The first impression...
CMSACC NV Website Bottle Shot

Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico 2022

The 2022 vintage has surprised a few, overcoming a much warmer year to offer some really enjoyable wines. The wines...
CMSAGS Website Bottle Shot

Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2020

Another superb Chianti from the exciting 2020 vintage, this is a vibrant dark red in colour, with a hint of...
CMSAPO Website Bottle Shot

Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna Poggiarso 2020

2020 is a cracking year for Chianti and this is a terrific example of what one can expect from the...
ULRSTD NV Website Bottle Shot

Ulrich Langguth 12 Degrees Gourmet Trocken Riesling 2023

A touch of honeycomb is in evidence here, along with some appealing citrus notes in this attractive dry German Riesling....

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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