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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.
Gruner Bottle Shot

Drop Zone Grüner Veltliner 2022

A good value Grüner from the Adelaide Hills. The grapes are softly pressed, the intention being to preserve the fresh...
DropZoneGrenacheShirazMataro

Drop Zone GSM 2019

A fine Barossa GSM blend, with a distinctive label. The individual varieties are fermented discretely and then put into older...
drop zone pg

Drop Zone Shiraz 2020

Shiraz from McLaren Vale which underwent a range of different fermentation methods, to increase the complexity of the wine before...
La Destinee The Lovers Rose

La Destinée The Lovers Rosé 2022

A blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Pinot Noir, the colour here is the very palest pink. The wine is soft,...
GE BV Shiraz Grenache

Greenock Estate Barossa Valley Shiraz Grenache 2018 

From venerable old vines, 100 years in age, in the Barossa, the grapes are destalked and placed ‘uncrushed’ in stainless...
AK RES Cab

Greenock Estate Angas King 1836 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 

Big black imposing label, heavy bottle, deep punt and a cork all suggest seriousness. And a serious wine this most...
GE BV Cab

Greenock Estate Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 

From a single vineyard in the Barossa, with 70-year-old vines, the wine spent 22 months maturing in French oak. The...
AK Clare Valley Shiraz

Greenock Estate Angas King 1836 Clare Valley Reserve Shiraz 2017

Deep blood red hue. Still very young, this is noticeably quite powerful. A serious Shiraz with a long and exciting...
MOSS WOOD White Background Bottle RV Cabernet Sauvignon

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

The classic red variety from Margaret River, this wine is a deep, shining red. The nose is blackberries, delicatessen meats,...
MOSS WOOD White Background bottle RV Merlot

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Merlot 2021

Aussie Merlot has rarely hit the heights that many once hoped, but there have certainly been some very fine examples...
Moss Wood Pinot Noir

Moss Wood Pinot Noir 2021

Always a controversial wine, one wonders whether detractors base their dislike simply on a once-prevailing view that Western Australia cannot...
Moss Wood Chardonnay

Moss Wood Chardonnay 2022

A vintage of contrasts but certainly yet another of the seemingly endless procession of superb years in Margaret River. The...
Moss Wood Semillon

Moss Wood Semillon 2023

Always one of the most exciting West Aussie Semillons and this release is no different. The vintage notes from the...
GS CabSauvCW bottleshot

Bec Hardy Garden Series Coonawarra Cabernet 2022

A fine follow up to the team’s excellent 2021, Coonawarra Cabernet remains one of the world’s top wines. Dark mauve...
BH SP Cauv Sauv Coonawarra

Bec Hardy Silver Princess Coonawarra Cabernet 2022

The team at Bec Hardy offer a number of wines made from Coonawarra Cabernet and this is certainly a pleasing...
TipsyHillNV

Pertaringa Tipsy Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

This is from a 1.7 hectare vineyard in the Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale, facing east, with the vines...
Shiraz

Hutton Vale Farm Shiraz 2019

This winery might have been flying under the radar for some time, but if they keep producing stunning wines like...
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Limefinger Learnings Watervale Riesling 2023

It has only been a few years but Neil Pike, one of the Clare Valley’s most experienced and skilled Riesling...
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Limefinger Solace Polish Hill River Riesling 2023

From the Polish Hill River sub-region of the Clare Valley, specifically the ‘Home Block’ which was planted in 1994 in...
Credaro Crowns Chard

Credaro 1000 Crowns Chardonnay 2022

It has taken just half a century for Margaret River Chardonnay to take its place among the very finest examples...
Credaro Crowns Cab Sauv

Credaro 1000 Crowns Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Both parcels used here were grown at Credaro situated in the Wilyabrup sub-region, with high density planting and the Houghton...
Credaro Crowns Shiraz

Credaro 1000 Crowns Shiraz 2021

From the Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River, for many the very heart of the region. 15% whole bunches used with...
Credaro Kinship Shiraz

Credaro Kinship Shiraz 2022

This the entry level Shiraz, but it is a little confusing. Entry level wines are not supposed to be this...
Hobbs of Barossa Berh Creek Shiraz

Hobbs Behr Creek Barossa Ranges Shiraz Montepulciano 2021

A Shiraz Montepulciano blend is perhaps not the most common mix one regularly encounters, but this French/Italian combination is a...

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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