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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.
CastleRock A&WRiesling Porongurup NoVint

Castle Rock A&W Riesling 2023

This is a tribute to Angelo and Wendy Diletti, Rob’s parents and the founders of Castle Rock. They planted their...
CastleRock Riesling NV

Castle Rock Riesling 2023

Put pricing aside for a moment, the team at Castle Rock have been making this Riesling since 1986 and they...
CastleRock Diletti Riesling Porongurup

Castle Rock Diletti Riesling 2022

This is Rob Diletti playing around with Old World techniques to explore the texture and acidity of Riesling (seriously, you...
CastleRock Skywalk Riesling NV

Castle Rock Skywalk Riesling 2023

Named after the lookout on the side of the actual Castle Rock, the fruit is a blend from all of...
Ironcloud Rock of Solitude Shiraz

Ironcloud Rock of Solitude Shiraz 2021

A really impressive Shiraz from the Ferguson Valley in Western Australia. A single vineyard wine with a maroon and purple...
Ironcloud The Alliance Cab Malbec

Ironcloud The Alliance Cabernet Malbec 2020

A Cab Malbec blend from the Ferguson Valley in Western Australia, the vines planted in 1999 and 2009 respectively. Fermentation...
Ironcloud The Alliance Chardonnay

Ironcloud The Alliance Chardonnay 2022

Chardonnay from the Ferguson Valley in Western Australia is perhaps a new experience for many. The usual process here is...
HeritageSeries OVShz

Lou Miranda 1907 Centenarian Old Vine Shiraz 2018

Part of the Heritage series from the third generation of this well known winemaking family, we have a superb Barossa...
Twisted Trunk Shiraz

Glen Eldon Twisted Trunk Shiraz 2019

From vines originally planted way back in 1865, hence the nickname (if you have ever seen an ancient vine, they...
The Foreman Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Allegiance Wines The Foreman Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

A wine dedicated to the men who built the old timber ships, although one suspects very few have been seen...
Anna Spinato Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut

Anna Spinato Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG 2022

Prosecco is one of those wines which has fallen into a niche where the vast majority is purchased on price...
Domaine Feraud Cuvee Prestige Provence Rose NV

Domaine des Féraud Cuvée Prestige Provence Rosé 2022

Good Provencal Rosé is the flavour of the month for a reason – organic examples even more so. They are...
JKW Short Stories Field Blend

James Kalleske Wines Short Stories Mt Benson Field Blend 2022

A field blend is simply a way of saying that this is a fruit salad of a wine – once...
JKW Short Stories GSM

James Kalleske Wines Short Stories GSM 2021

The famous Rhône blend done Barossa style. Grenache dominant, the wine spends time in large format French oak. A deep...
JKW Short Stories Rose

James Kalleske Wines Short Stories Rosé 2023

Made from a combination of Grenache and Mourvèdre, the former the dominant variety here. There is a dollop of Shiraz...
HeritageSeries OVShzMouv

Lou Miranda 1898 Centenarian Old Vine Shiraz Mourvèdre 2018

A blend of ancient Barossa Shiraz and Mourvèdre from the Angel’s Block vineyard, planted in 1898 (fair bet it was...
CL Merlot

Ladbroke Grove Cloverleaf Merlot 2014

Not often one sees a current release Aussie red that already has almost a decade under its belt, especially from...
CL Cab Merlot

Ladbroke Grove Cabernet Merlot 2014

A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, all from Coonawarra, with considerable age already under its belt and...
WatervaleNV

O’Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2023

Seems 2023 makes it is a hat trick of great vintages in the Clare for Riesling. This bottle of joy...
PolishNV

O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling 2023

A superb Clare vintage, yet again, with a long and cool growing season. The vineyards, located next to each other,...
Henschke Peggy's Hill Riesling EV S Over yrs

Henschke Peggy’s Hill Riesling 2023

Sourced from the Eden Valley, this is a very fine Riesling for drinking now and over the next decade –...
Super Trooper

Zonte’s Footstep Super Trooper Shiraz Cabernet 2019

First, allow us to call the team on what is obviously a failed attempt to divert attention with the name....
Love Symbol

Zonte’s Footstep Love Symbol Grenache 2022

A cracking McLaren Vale Grenache and more evidence of how blessed we have been with some superb vintages of late...
Blackberry Patch

Zonte’s Footstep Blackberry Patch Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

From the Fleurieu region, nothing like a bit of the old power of positive suggestion in the name and label....

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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