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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.
Nightfall Perseus Cab Sav

Nightfall Perseus The Hero Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

From an excellent vintage for the Coonawarra region, this is a very small production release from their prestige Nightfall series....
nightfall norma CabSav x ()

Nightfall Norma The Benchmark Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Another in the Nightfall series from this highly regarded Coonawarra vintage. This is a bit special. Very dark maroon with...
Tapanappa FoggyHill PinotNoir

Tapanappa Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2025

2025 was a warmer vintage on the Fleurieu Peninsula, though for Pinot Noir, that is something which is not always...
Tapanappa Definitus PinotNoir

Tapanappa Definitus Pinot Noir 2023

If one may begin with the bottom line, this is the best Definitus Pinot Noir I have seen. Indeed, I’m...
The Dogwalk Cabernet Sauvignon

Pikes The Dogwalk Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

No doubt that there is a very good reason for calling this cracking value Cabernet from the Clare Valley, ‘the...
Rising Ground Cabernet Franc small file size

Pikes Rising Ground Cabernet Franc 2025

Always fascinating to see solo Cabernet Franc. So often the bridesmaid, every now and again it pops up and proves...
Los Companeros Shiraz Tempranillo small size

Pikes Los Companeros Shiraz Tempranillo 2023

Spanish for the companions (I suspect that even those of us with el poco Espanol could have guessed that), these...
BW Oakey Creek Vineyard Semillon NV

Brokenwood Oakey Creek Vineyard Semillon 2023

One of the Hunter’s more famous Semillon vineyards, fermentation was in stainless steel with no oak or malolactic fermentation involved....
BW Oakey Creek Vineyard Chardonnay NV

Brokenwood Oakey Vineyard Chardonnay 2025

Chardonnay from the Oakey Creek Vineyard, pressed as whole bunches into French oak barrels for native yeast fermentation. 36% new...
BW Indigo Vineyard Pinot Noir NV

Brokenwood Indigo Vineyard Pinot Noir 2025

Beechworth Pinot Noir from a trio of clones. The team have been making Pinot from this vineyard since 2002. 25%...
BW Tallawanta Vineyard Shiraz NV

Brokenwood Tallawanta Vineyard Shiraz 2024

This vineyard was planted in 1920. Maturation is in French oak puncheons and one 600-litre demi-muid, with new oak comprising...
BW Wildwood Road Vineyard Cab Sauv NV

Brokenwood Wildwood Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

This is the 11th release of this Margaret River Cabernet, although it is one in the portfolio which really does...
Lakeside Cabernet Sauvignon

Bec Hardy Lakeside Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

South Aussie Cabernet from the impressive 2024 vineyard, fermentation is in temperature controlled, stainless steel fermenters. The wine spent ten...
Lakeside Shiraz

Bec Hardy Lakeside Shiraz 2024

A richly flavoured, early drinking style of Shiraz from the excellent 2024 vintage, fermentation was in temperature controlled, stainless steel...
Family Reserve Red Blend

Bec Hardy Family Reserve Red Blend 2024

The blend is a combination of Merlot and Shiraz with a dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon. The varieties were crushed, destemmed...
Ross Hill Pinnacle Sauv Blanc

Ross Hill Pinnacle Series Sauvignon Blanc 2025

From the Estate’s Griffin Road Vineyard in the Orange region of Central New South Wales, a high-altitude vineyard sitting between...
ROSS HILL PINNACLE CABERNET FRANC

Ross Hill Pinnacle Series Cabernet Franc 2024

Love seeing good examples of Cabernet Franc as a solo varietal. Possibly not to the same extent as Pinot Noir,...
ROSS HILL PINNACLE PINOT GRIS

Ross Hill Pinnacle Series Pinot Gris 2025

Whereas most of the other wines in the Pinnacle Series are all sourced from the Estate’s Griffin Road Vineyard, this...
Ross Hill Pinnacle Chardonnay

Ross Hill Pinnacle Series Chardonnay 2025

Chardonnay from a lofty elevation, maturation was for eight months in French oak, approximately 1/3rd of that new, which was...
ROSS HILL PINNACLE CABERNET SAUV

Ross Hill Pinnacle Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

An elegant example of Cabernet Sauvignon which spent a year and a half maturing in French oak, 35% of which...
ROSS HILL PINNACLE SHIRAZ

Ross Hill Pinnacle Series Shiraz 2024

Cooler climate Shiraz can be a thing of beauty, and this is a fine example from the Estate’s Griffin Road...
Firebird Sauvignon Blanc NV

Nova Vita Firebird Sauvignon Blanc 2025

The fruit for this Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from two different vineyards, containing three discrete clones. Fermentation is...
Firebird Pinot Gris NV

Nova Vita Firebird Pinot Gris 2024

A single vineyard Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris, the fruit is sourced from two discrete blocks. Fermentation was in tank. Deep...
Firebird Pinot Rosé NV

Nova Vita Firebird Pinot Noir Rosé 2025

The team here have used the champagne pressing methods on the Pinot Noir which has created this Rosé. The fruit...

Stories

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There is surely no wine region in this country which has more elite wineries than Margaret River. The advantage for...
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...
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