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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.
NV Franca's Vineyard Tempranillo

Russell & Suitor Franca Tempranillo 2025

Spain’s most famous red variety is doing very nicely indeed, in Australia. This example is from the Riverland. Vibrant dark...
NV Franca's Vineyard Pinot Noir

Russell & Suitor Franca Pinot Noir 2025

Sourced from South Australian fruit and seeing a touch of French oak during production, this is a very pleasant and...
NV Franca's Vineyard Grenache

Russell & Suitor Franca Grenache 2025

South Australian Grenache, the team have operated on the basis of minimal intervention to allow the pure fruit flavours to...
NV Franca's Vineyard Chardonnay

Russell & Suitor Franca Chardonnay 2025

This fresh and youthful South East Australian Chardonnay sees the use of French oak to increase texture and complexity. That...
NV Son of a Bull Pinot Noir

Russell & Suitor Son of a Bull Pinot Noir 2025

Part of the attractively labelled Tasmanian range, this is a light, fresh and attractive style of Pinot Noir destined for...
NV Son of a Bull Pinot Gris

Russell & Suitor Son of a Bull Pinot Gris 2025

Early days and very much a generalisation, but it does seem that the 2025 vintage in Tasmania is a most...
NV Son of a Bull Merlot

Russell & Suitor Son of a Bull Merlot 2025

For me, this vintage of their Tasmanian Merlot takes a step up from the previous release. A gleaming crimson/mauve in...
NV Son of a Bull Sparkling

Russell & Suitor Son of a Bull Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay 2025

The Son of a Bull range highlights wines from Tasmania, including this sparkling made from a blend of Chardonnay and...
NV Son of a Bull Pinot Gris

Russell & Suitor Son of a Bull Pinot Gris 2025

This is a variety well suited to the cooler climes of Tasmania. It opens with a spicy, floral, subtle stone...
NV Son of a Bull RPG

Russell & Suitor Son of a Bull Riesling Pinot Gris Gewurztraminer 2025

From Tasmania, this intriguing blend gives more than a nod to the Alsace region of France. The colour here is...
NV Alejandro Saperavi

Russell & Suitor Alejandro Saperavi 2025

This younger version of the famous Georgian Saperavi grape is sourced from the Riverland. Again, both French and American oak...
NV Alejandro Saperavi

Russell & Suitor Alejandro Saperavi 2024

Saperavi is the famous Georgian grape which is now making inroads in other winegrowing regions around the world. This example...
NV Alejandro Montepulciano

Russell & Suitor Alejandro Montepulciano 2025

Again, the fruit is sourced from the Murray Darling region in Victoria. With the younger vintage, we are seeing a...
NV Alejandro Montepulciano

Russell & Suitor Alejandro Montepulciano 2024

The fruit for this increasingly popular Italian varietal has been sourced from the Murray Darling region in Victoria. There is...
NV Alejandro Graciano

Russell & Suitor Alejandro Graciano 2025

Like its slightly older sibling from the previous vintage, there is a degree of rusticity and savouriness to this wine....
NV Alejandro Prosecco

Russell & Suitor Alejandro Prosecco 2025

A fresh, light and easy drinking style of Prosecco from South Eastern Australia, the colour is a lemon/straw. The nose...
NV Baila con Toro Pinot Noir Chardonnay

Russell & Suitor Baila con Toro Pinot Chardonnay 2022

Tasmania has well and truly proved itself as our leading region for quality sparkling wines. Personally, and if the Poms...
NV Baila con Toro Blanc De Blanc

Russell & Suitor Baila con Toro Blanc de Blancs 2021

Tasmanian Blanc de Blancs, 100% Chardonnay of course, the second fermentation saw the wine left on lees in tank. Pale...
BLS ()

Byron & Harold Gravity Shiraz 2023

A cracking Margaret River Shiraz from a vintage which has legitimate claims to be considered one of the greatest ever...
Byron & Harold Rags to Riches Cab Sauv

Byron & Harold Rags to Riches Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

A Margaret River Cabernet with immense promise. After fermentation, the wine spent time maturing in French oak barriques for the...
Pertaringa TipsyHill SV Caberner Sauvignon

Pertaringa Tipsy Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

This is from a single vineyard in the Blewitt Springs sub-region, a 1.7-hectare block, which was planted in 1999. Maturation...
Bec Hardy Over the Top Shiraz

Pertaringa Over the Top Shiraz 2024

The fruit here is sourced from two vineyards – the Osmond’s Penny’s Block, which is located on Blewitt Springs Road;...
Undercover Shiraz

Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz 2024

The team source the fruit used here from three different McLaren Vale vineyards – the Lower Tintara Vineyard, originally planted...
BelongingToTheHillsShiraz NV

Pertaringa Belonging to the Hills Shiraz 2024

The releases here, both Pertaringa and other, across several vintages, are as good as any I can recall from this...

Stories

PEN NV SpeRel CabShiraz SouthAus Superblend B Duo Cork

Penfolds Superblend

Every Australian winelover will surely be aware of just how much Penfolds love to release special wines, whether they have...
PEN La Chapelle Grange winemakers barrels

La Chapelle Grange 2022

The second release of this extraordinary Rhone/Aussie blend, crafted by two of the world’s great wineries, Jaboulet and Penfolds, has...
AMW Collection

Appellation Marlborough Wine Announces 2025 Annual Collection

A benchmark selection of certified Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) has announced its highly anticipated Annual Collection for...
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The Barossa Wine Guide 2026

By Ken Gargett, Andrew Caillard MW and Tony Love The Barossa is unquestionably Australia’s most famous wine region. Certainly not...
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...
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