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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.
Soul Growers Barossa Bourne Cabernet Malbec

Soul Growers Barossa Bourne Cabernet Malbec 2022

An intriguing blend from a fine vintage and a world class region. The colour is a purple/mauve, with notes of...
DowieDooleSuperiore

Dowie Doole Lagrein Grenache Shiraz 2021

Pre bottling sample. This is a deep, near opaque purple, plush and intense, offering saturated flavours. An uncommon blend but...
tapanappa piccadilly valley chardonnay

Tapanappa Chardonnay Piccadilly Valley 2023

After the stunning 2021 and 2022 vintages, could the region have hoped for the trifecta? A qualified yes. What they...
tapanappa tiers vineyard chardonnay

Tapanappa Tiers Chardonnay 2023

Tiers has long been one of Australia’s most famous Chardonnays and this latest release will only add to the reputation....
tapanappa tiers vineyard m chardonnay

Tapanappa Tiers 1.5m Chardonnay 2023

In 2003, Brian Croser and his family took 1.3 hectares of the famous Tiers vineyard in the Piccadilly Valley, originally...
Byron & Harold The Partners Cab Sauv

Byron & Harold The Partners Cabernet Sauvignon Great Southern 2022

Just 2,021 bottles made of this fine Great Southern Cabernet Sauvignon, so it is worth moving quickly. An appealing purple...
Byron & Harold The Protocol Shiraz

Byron & Harold The Protocol Shiraz Margaret River 2022

This is a serious example of Margaret River Shiraz. It might not enjoy the celebrity of the region’s Cabernet but...
Byron & Harold The Protocol Cab Sauv

Byron & Harold The Protocol Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River 2022

Margaret River Cabernet has established itself as not just one of this country’s great red wine styles, but as a...
Moss Brothers Fidium Cab Sauv

Moss Brothers Fidium Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

This is a superb example of Margaret River Cabernet, quite majestic. The colour is an opaque maroon, while the nose...
Moss Brothers Fidium Shiraz

Moss Brothers Fidium Shiraz 2022

The team here suggest that this beautiful Margaret River Shiraz would be “perfectly paired with a Mexican slow cooked pulled...
Lange FifthGen CabSauv

Lange Estate Fifth Generation Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Frankland River Cabernet which spent a year maturing in French oak. A deep garnet colour, this is an earthy, savoury...
Lange FifthGen Riesling

Lange Estate Fifth Generation Riesling Frankland River 2023

Frankland River Riesling in fine form. Harvested in the cool of night and fermented with some fine lees, in tank,...
Pramie Shiraz

Schild Estate Pramie Shiraz 2019

From estate vineyards in the Barossa Valley, this cracking Shiraz is under cork. Deep maroon in colour, there are lots...
NarrowRoad ShirazCab

Schild Estate Narrow Road Shiraz Cabernet 2021

From the Narrow Road Vineyard in the Barossa, there were just sixteen barrels made of this wine. A blend of...
Moorooroo Shiraz

Schild Estate Moorooroo Shiraz 2021

From a stunning vintage, this is simply sumptuous. Always a tiny release, coming from the four remaining rows of Shiraz...
SS SavBlanc

Stonehaven Stepping Stone Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Another 2024 – expect a deluge in the coming months – with the long, cool, mild conditions in the Limestone...
Altus Riesling

Ulithorne Altus Riesling 2023

From a single vineyard in the Clare Valley, and a top-notch vintage, Altus apparently means high in Latin, which is...
Altus Chardonnay

Ulithorne Altus Chardonnay 2021

This finely crafted Chardonnay has been sourced from a single vineyard in the Adelaide Hills with fermentation in stainless steel...
Schoolhouse Shiraz

Schoolhouse Shiraz 2020

Coonawarra Shiraz, the wine sees extended skin contact, before being pressed into a mix of French and American oak hogsheads,...
Schoolhouse Cab

Schoolhouse Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Near black in colour, so black it seems blue, the fruit for this fine Coonawarra Cabernet has been sourced from...
Empyrean Cabernet

Reschke Empyrean Cabernet 2016

For those whose Latin is not up to scratch, Empyrean means the highest sphere in which the purist elements of...
Staff Chardonnay NV

HaselGrove Staff Chardonnay Adelaide Hills 2023

The fruit here was pressed into a combination of new (30%), and older (70%), French oak hogsheads and puncheons, followed...
MMIRTR NV Website Bottle Shot

Mezzacorona Maso di Mezzo Teroldego 2021

The Italian red variety, Teroldego, may not be a household name in Australian drinking circles just yet, but for those...
FASWHP NV Website Bottle Shot

Hekate Passito 2019

Named after Hekate, a Greek goddess who was the guardian of youth (no wonder I’d never heard of her). She...

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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