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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.
Hare and the Tortoise Pinot Gris

Hare and the Tortoise Pinot Gris 2023

King Valley Pinot Gris, this has seen whole bunch pressing and fermentation in tank. Deep gold in colour, the nose...
Take it to the Grave Pinot Grigio

Take it to the Grave Pinot Grigio 2023

Pinot Grigio from the Adelaide Hills. The label is a JV which focuses on high altitude vineyards. Whole bunch pressing,...
No Evil Rosé

No Evil Rosé 2023

The aim here is to employ fruit from certified organic vineyards with minimal additions. In this case, the fruit is...
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Oakridge Henk Chardonnay 2022

Similar winemaking was employed here, as we saw with the Hazeldene – all of which gives wine lovers the opportunity...
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Oakridge Willowlake Chardonnay 2022

The Oakridge range of Vineyard Series Chardonnays (and Pinots, for that matter) should be on every wine lover’s radar. This...
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Oakridge Willowlake Pinot Noir 2022

The Willowlake Vineyard, which contributes to the Vineyard Series, is north facing and located on red volcanic soils at Gladysdale...
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Oakridge Hazeldene Pinot Noir 2022

As with the Chardonnays, uniform winemaking throughout the Series ensures that wine lovers can see the impact of terroir without...
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Oakridge Henk Pinot Noir 2022

As with all of the wines in the Vineyard Series, the skill of Dave Bicknell, one of this country’s rock...
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Oakridge Hazeldene Chardonnay 2022

Moving now to the Hazeldene Vineyard, a north-facing site in the Yarra, with the wine seeing whole bunch pressing into...
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Curtis Cavaliere McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021

A very fine McLaren Vale Shiraz from a superb vintage, drinking beautifully now but offering even more down the track....
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Curtis Ancestor McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021

From 80-year-old vines and McLaren Vale, the grapes were gently destemmed and cold soaked for two weeks, before fermentation and...
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Curtis Queen of Hearts Rosé NV

A thoroughly enjoyable Rosé with an appealing neon pink colour. This is fresh, floral, fragrant and fruity while aromas of...
MOSSWOOD White Elsa

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Elsa 2023

This is a wine which takes us into a different realm of Sauvignon Blanc, with whole bunch pressing, fermentation in...
MOSSWOOD White Chardonnay

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Chardonnay 2023

This is the third release of the Ribbon Vale Chardonnay, which hails from Wilyabrup, a cooler location than the MW...
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Moss Wood Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

The Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon is always one of Margaret River’s best and this latest release is no exception. From...
SF GS Vermentino

Singlefile Vermentino 2023

From the Mt Barker sub-region, the grapes spent eight hours on skins and then a slow fermentation in tank. A...
SF GS Malbec

Singlefile Great Southern Malbec 2023

One quarter of the fruit here went into new Bordeaux oak barriques with the rest in a mix of two...
RF RF Chardonnay

Singlefile Free Run Chardonnay 2023

From the Great Southern region in Western Australia, the fruit received a gentle destemming before pressing into 225-litre Burgundian barrels...
RF RF Pinot Noir

Singlefile Free Run Pinot Noir 2023

The fruit is sourced from two vineyards in the Great Southern region, one from Denmark and one from Mt Barker....
SF GS Tempranillo

Singlefile Tempranillo 2023

West Aussie Temp is not the most common of wines, but that does not mean it isn’t a delicious one....
SF Family Reserve Chardonnay

Singlefile Great Southern Family Reserve Chardonnay 2023

From the Denmark sub-region, this is all class. The fruit was whole bunch pressed for fermentation in French oak, one...
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OTO Prosecco NV

An enthusiastic and exuberant style of Prosecco. The colour is a very pale lemon hue. The nose exhibits notes of...
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Hewitson Madame M Adelaide Blanc & Blanc 2023

An intriguing blend of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Sauvignon Blanc, 77% and 23% respectively, from vineyards in the...
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Hewitson Miss Harry Barossa Valley GSM 2023

The blend here is 35% Grenache, 33% Shiraz and 32% Mourvedre from the Barossa. 48% of whole bunches are included...

Stories

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Penfolds Superblend

Every Australian winelover will surely be aware of just how much Penfolds love to release special wines, whether they have...
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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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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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