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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.
Byron & Harold Rags to Riches Chardonnay

Byron & Harold Rags to Riches Chardonnay 2023

A terrific Margaret River Chardonnay which is cracking value. Lemon/green in hue, this sits at the leaner end of the...
LGW School House Block Riesling

Ladbroke Grove School House Block Coonawarra Riesling 2019

Sourced from not just the School House Block, but also the Magarey Vineyard in Coonawarra. People forget that Coonawarra was...
LGW School House Block Riesling

Ladbroke Grove School House Block Coonawarra Riesling 2018

Fascinating to compare this with their 2019, both offering much, despite their differences. Same source as the 2019, for me...
Aylesbury Estate The Pater Series Chardonnay

Aylesbury Estate The Pater Series Ferguson Valley Chardonnay 2022

The name, ‘Ferguson Valley’, seems to be appearing more and more on top-notch wines from the West, especially Chardonnay. This...
James Kalleske Wines Short Stories Nouveau

James Kalleske Short Stories Nouveau 2023

Now this is something that is definitely a bit different. Sure, lighter, fruit dominant red wines are not uncommon, but...
James Kalleske Wines Short Stories Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

James Kalleske Short Stories Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2023

A near even split here in this traditional West Aussie classic dry white, with 51% Sauvignon Blanc and 49% Semillon....
CFV heritage merlot new version bottle shot copy

Curtis Heritage Merlot 2020

Deep blood red in colour, this offers lifted aromatics. This is a good fist of a richly flavoured Merlot, lots...
curtis winery sparkling pinot noir bottle shot

Curtis Sparkling Pinot Noir NV

The label here does not actually say ‘Rosé’, but no one is going to be fooled. A lovely Christmas neon...
small batch shiraz bottle shot

Curtis Small Batch Shiraz McLaren Vale 2021

The Shiraz here has received the same treatment as that used in the Grenache Shiraz blend – from 80-year-old vines,...
small batch gren sh bottle shot

Curtis Small Batch Grenache Shiraz McLaren Vale 2021

The Grenache was sourced from 120-year-old vines, destemmed and cold-soaked for 14 days. Fermentation was over the following two weeks...
small batch grenache bottle shot

Curtis Small Batch Grenache McLaren Vale 2022

The team dub this an ‘Early Release’, which seems to me to suggest it is an early and easy drinker....
cavaliere cab sauv bottle

Curtis Cavaliere McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

A fine example of a warmer climate Cabernet from a cracking vintage. Good McLaren Vale Cab flies under the radar,...
CFV heritage cab sauv

Curtis Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A solid Cabernet with classic varietal notes for the style when from warmer climes. Dark red in colour. Blackberries, tobacco...
Byron & Harold Tandem Merlot

Byron & Harold Tandem Merlot 2021

The fruit used here has been sourced from the Geographe and Great Southern regions. The colour here is a garnet...
Castelli SS Cab Sav Merlot

Castelli Estate Silver Series Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2020

The fruit here comes from both the Frankland River and Margaret River regions. The cepage is 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and...
Frederick Adelaide Pinot Noir

Greenock Estate Sieger Estate Frederick Old Vine Pinot Noir 2021

A cracking Pinot Noir from a top vintage and the ideal South Aussie region, this is pale crimson in colour....
Flintlock Shiraz

Gundog Flintlock Shiraz 2022

Only 178 dozen made of this seriously impressive Shiraz from the Hilltops. The plan here is to blend the very...
Shiraz

Gundog Canberra District Shiraz 2022

Shiraz from the Canberra region has established itself as one of the great styles of the nation. This wine saw...
Gundaroo Riesling

Gundog Gundaroo Riesling 2023

The 126 dozen of the team’s Canberra Riesling from this vintage might be just a drop in the proverbial ocean,...
Stone Of Destiny Shiraz Malbec

Erin Eyes Stone of Destiny Shiraz Malbec 2021

Two of the Clare’s great red varieties blended here. The colour is near opaque but with vibrant purple edges. The...
Blarney Stone Shiraz

Erin Eyes Blarney Stone Shiraz 2021

An excellent Clare Valley Shiraz from a superb vintage, which is cracking value. Inky dark maroon in colour, this is...
Ballycapple Cabernet Sauvignon

Erin Eyes Ballycapple Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A Clare Valley Cabernet from a superb year, the colour here is a purple maroon. The aromas include tobacco leaves,...
Tapanappa Definitus Pinot Noir Foggy Hill low res

Tapanappa Definitus Pinot Noir 2021

Brian Croser’s flagship Pinot Noir, comes from just ten rows of Dijon clones, 777 and 115, planted in the Foggy...
Tapanappa Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir

Tapanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2022

Brian Croser is one of Australia’s most innovative and legendary winemakers, a reputation forged over decades. At the Foggy Hill...

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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