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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.
riserva vigna cerbaia

Cerbaia Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2010

If the chance to drink such an exciting 2010 Brunello was a thrill, we now have the 2010 Riserva. In...
cerbaia brunello di montalcino

Cerbaia Brunello di Montalcino 2010

2010 was one of the greatest vintages that has blessed this exciting region, and the wines will be drunk, discussed,...
cerbaia brunello di montalcino

Cerbaia Brunello di Montalcino 2015

From a stunning vintage that seems to have been overlooked as it was swamped by the legendary 2016s. Your cellar...
cerbaia brunello di montalcino

Cerbaia Brunello di Montalcino 2018

This thrilling Brunello producer has been making wine since the 1982 vintage, but is only coming to prominence today. It...
SE Gander NV

Schubert The Gander Reserve Shiraz 2017

This is the team’s prestige release, an elite Barossa Shiraz. From estate fruit, the wine spends around two and a...
SE Lone Goose NV

Schubert The Lone Goose Shiraz Viognier 2018

This blend is from a twenty-five year old vineyard located on Roennfeldt Road, part of the estate. The wine is...
SE Hatchling NV

Schubert The Hatchling Shiraz 2020

From the Marananga sub-region in the Barossa, fermentation in their five tonne open top fermenters before basket pressing to older...
SE Sentinel NV

Schubert The Sentinel Shiraz 2017

From the estate’s vineyards on Roennfeldt Road in Marananga in the Barossa, this is fermented in five tonne open top...
SE Gosling NV

Schubert The Gosling Shiraz 2018

The goose theme is strong with this winery and presumably they have reason. To be honest, it sits a little...
SE GYB NV

Schubert Goose Yard Block Shiraz 2018

The fruit here is sourced from Block 2 on their Roennfeldt Road estate, which they call the Goose Yard Block....
HC Vigilance NV

Hare’s Chase Vigilance Shiraz 2020

Sourced from Marananga Shiraz, a highly regarded sub-region in the Barossa. Under cork and inky purple in colour, this is...
HC Ironscraper ()

Hare’s Chase Ironscraper Shiraz 2019

The grapes here come from various blocks in the estate vineyard, each discretely fermented with twice daily pumpovers, before basketing...
The Reverend Canon Shiraz nv

Sorby Adams Reverend Canon Barossa Shiraz 2020

So much cracking quality Shiraz coming out of the Barossa these days that consumers not only have endless choices, but...

Penley Estate Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Classic Cabernet from Coonawarra, from a fine vintage. This has a deep red/garnet hue and is still very young, but...
St Hugo Vetus Purum Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon ()

St Hugo Vetus Purum 2015

St Hugo have given us so many wonderful wines over the years, the concept of a prestige release certainly has...
Gibson The Dirtman Shiraz

Gibson The Dirtman Shiraz 2022

Named after maker, Rob Gibson, who is not only a highly respected winemaker and viticulturist but a geologist. Fruit comes...
Wine Unplugged Pacha Mama Pinot Noir

Pacha Mama Pinot Noir 2022

Fruit harvested from the Full Moon Vineyard in the sub-region of Gladysvale in the Upper Yarra Valley, planted twenty years...
Wine Unplugged Pacha Mama Chardonnay

Pacha Mama Chardonnay 2022

A very fine Chardonnay from the Yarra Valley, the grapes were whole pressed to tank, followed by a wild ferment...
Wine Unplugged Pacha Mama Pinot Gris

Pacha Mama Pinot Gris 2022

A little more time maturing, longer hangtime on the vines for richer flavours which are more in the stonefruit spectrum...
Wine Unplugged Cloak & Dagger Pinot Grigio

Cloak & Dagger The Dagger Pinot Grigio 2023

From northeast Victoria, the King and Alpine Valleys, this is a gleaming gold colour with hints of pink bronze, as...
Wine Unplugged Pacha Mama Riesling

Pacha Mama Riesling 2023

Sourced from the Strathbogie Ranges, more evidence of how many regions are discovering just how well they can do Riesling...
Wine Unplugged Cloak & Dagger Sangiovese

Cloak & Dagger The Cloak Sangiovese 2022

This famous Italian variety has found a home in northeast Victoria. 70% of the wine spent time in older French...
colmar estate block pinot noir

Colmar Estate Block 1 Pinot Noir 2022

The Pinot vines in Block 1 are a little older than Block 3, planted 32 years ago, and the resulting...
mw mcnicol cv shiraz ()

Mitchell McNicol Shiraz 2010

A classic Clare Valley Shiraz, one which is already drinking well, but will also continue to provide pleasure and improve...

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...
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...
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