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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.
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Hewitson Ned & Henry’s Barossa Valley Shiraz 2022

This has intentionally been made to ensure it drinks well when young, as well as into the future. That it...
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Hewitson Ungrafted Grenache Barossa Valley 2023

Ungrafted Grenache from the Barossa, under cork, this saw maturation in older French oak barrels. The vines providing the fruit...
Allegiance Wines The Artisan McLaren Vale Shiraz NV

Allegiance The Artisan McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023

Sourced from fruit grown in a vineyard situated in the Willunga Foothills, which was planted thirty years ago, the wine...
Allegiance Wines The Artisan Coonawarra Cab Sauv NV

Allegiance The Artisan Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

The vineyard providing the grapes for this fine Coonawarra Cab hail from a single vineyard, a block near the north...
FRU Rioja Reserva

Faustino Rivero Ulecia Reserva 2018

From vineyards in Rioja Alt awith an average elevation of 700 metres, this is definitely a high altitude wine. A...
FRU Rioja Blanco

Faustino Rivero Ulecia Blanco 2023

This blend of Viura, Tempranillo Blanco and Garnacha Blanca helps disprove the myth that Spain can’t make delicious whites that...
FRU Rioja Joven

Faustino Rivero Ulecia Joven 2023

This youthful, fresh and bright style of red is a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha, most of it from the...
FRU Rioja Rosado

Faustino Rivero Ulecia Rosado 2023

This appealing Rosé, or Rosado as it is known in Spain, is from a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Viura....
FRU Rioja Crianza

Faustino Rivero Ulecia Crianza 2021

A blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha from high altitude vineyards, fermentation here is in stainless steel before maturation for a...
FRU Rioja Gran Reserva

Faustino Rivero Ulecia Gran Reserva 2016

Again, a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha, this is the pinnacle of the Rioja range. The colour is a deep...

Epic Negociants Semaphore Shiraz McLaren Vale No 40 2018

The colour here is a dark garnet. There are still some vanillin oak notes evident on the nose, but integration...

Epic Negociants Shiraz Barossa/McLaren Vale Shiraz No 58 2018

Deep maroon, the nose shows us some of the best characters of both regions with chocolate, licorice, dry herbs, beef...

Epic Negociants Cabernet Sauvignon Gneissec Rock Margaret River No 33 2020

Garnet ruby in colour, this is an earthy, fleshy style. The nose exhibits notes of red fruits, tobacco leaves, graphite...

Epic Negociants The Apollonian Margaret River Chardonnay 2021

 The Apollonian theory in Greek mythology apparently brings together opposing gods and brothers, which ties in neatly with this wine,...
Leconfield Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon

Leconfield Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

One of the great joys of doing this is tasting a wine, scribbling the notes and then checking for a...
Castelli Estate Great Southern Shiraz

Castelli Shiraz 2020

A very impressive Frankland River Shiraz, which is cracking value. Maturation was in a mix of French oak barriques and...
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Angove Brightlands Shiraz 2020

An embossed bottle comes boxed and numbered – mine was 10 of 1,140. This prestige Shiraz from McLaren Vale is...
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Angove Angel’s Rise Vineyard Shiraz 2020

This vineyard is located high in the Clarendon sub-region of McLaren Vale, at 305 metres above sea level. The vines...
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Angove Warboys Vineyard Shiraz 2020

From McLaren Vale, the Warboys Vineyard, which is just 55 metres above sea level and has Shiraz planted back early...
Pirathon Shiraz Silver No Vintage()

Pirathon Shiraz 2019

Now dubbed Silver Label, but still a great value, cracking and delicious Barossa red, from a range of sub-regions, that...
Credaro Kinship Chardonnay

Credaro Kinship Chardonnay 2023

The fruit here is sourced from a few different vineyards in Margaret River. Fermentation is with natural yeasts with no...
Credaro Crowns Chardonnay

Credaro 1000 Crowns Chardonnay 2023

The fruit for this exciting Marg River Chardonnay is sourced from two vineyards, including one in the region’s dress circle...
Barossa Cellar Shiraz

Barons of the Barossa Barossa Cellar Shiraz 2021

The Barons are a group of local Barossa legends, who have been nominated for inclusion. Yes, they do wander around...
Wild Folk Nouveau Pinot Noir

Wild Folk Nouveau Pinot Noir 2023

Pinot Noir from Wrattonbully, this is made very much in the natural wine mode. The intervention in vineyard and winery...

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...
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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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