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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 Shiraz 2023

The aim here is to produce a full-flavoured Barossa Shiraz, which is a joy to drink when approached young but...
BelleVilleRoseBottle

Hewitson Belle Ville Rosé 2024

Dean Hewitson has named this wine after the house he and his young family shared several decades ago when he...
Neldner Road Neldner Road Shiraz

Neldner Road Shiraz 2021

Dave Powell’s new label can be expected to provide some stellar wines, and no one will be disappointed with this...
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Majella The Musician Cabernet Shiraz 2022

Long been a personal favourite as a wine which drinks beautifully, ages well, shows how good the great Aussie red...
Amadio Black Label Shiraz screw

Amadio Shiraz 2022

Terrific value here with a Shiraz sourced from some famous regions, such as the Barossa Valley, Langhorne Creek and McLaren...
The Heir ()

Aramis Museum Release The Heir Shiraz 2014

Those wanting to experience a mature Aussie red, look no further. This already has more than a decade under its...
Morpheus

Aramis Morpheus Shiraz Viognier 2018

2018 is a wonderful vintage and those who have it in their cellars have been fortunate. Those who don’t have...
Nemesis

Aramis Nemesis Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

A very attractive Cabernet from McLaren Vale, from this special vintage. Under diam, just 1,236 (very heavy) bottles were made....
Schoolhouse Headmaster Sauvignon Blanc

Schoolhouse Headmaster Sauvignon Blanc 2025

A serious Sauvignon Blanc here, from the red (terra rossa) soils of Coonawarra. The colour here is a near gin...
Cape Barren Old Vine Grenache McLaren Vale

Cape Barren Old Vine McLaren Vale Grenache 2024

Old vine Grenache from regions like McLaren Vale continue to enthral wine lovers. Easy to see why with gems like...
Stonehaven Stepping Stone Sauvignon Blanc

Stonehaven Stepping Stone Sauvignon Blanc 2025

This is a seriously good value Savvy, from the Limestone Coast, specifically the three regions of Mundulla, Padthaway and Coonawarra....
Schild Narrow Road Shiraz Cabernet Barossa Valley

Schild Narrow Road Shiraz Cabernet 2022

The squat bottle seems to be becoming more and more popular and we are seeing some seriously good wines in...
Bone Dry Sauvignon Blanc

Bone Dry Sauvignon Blanc 2025

It almost seemed like an April Fools Day joke but no, the first wines from 2025 are already crossing the...
Icon Q Chardonnay

Tomich Adelaide Hills Icons Woodside Q96 Chardonnay 2019

An Adelaide Hills Chardonnay which already has quite a few years under its belt, adding to the development and complexity...
V Hi

Hart of the Barossa Ye Brave Shiraz 2021

This is the team’s prestige Shiraz from the Barossa, coming from a truly stunning vintage, and the wine more than...
Tomich Hill Barossa Valley Shiraz

Tomich T Valley Shiraz 2022

A cracking Barossa Shiraz from a stellar vintage, this is absolutely fabulous value. A purple/maroon hue, this is plush and...
Bottle photography as refined as your wine by CSP Creative

Taylors Jaraman Clare Valley/Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

A wine that takes the best from both regions, Clare and Coonawarra, and which has already made a real impression...
Aramis White Label Cabernet

Aramis White Label Cabernet 2022

From a really good vintage for the region, this is a fine warm climate Cabernet, just what you’d expect from...
Aramis White Label Cabernet

Aramis White Label Cabernet 2020

From a McLaren Vale winery which always seems to offer delicious wines, this is full of flavour. The colour here...
Bottle photography as refined as your wine by CSP Creative

Taylors Jaraman Clare Valley/McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023

Continuing the theme of regional blends, this is a marriage that really works – Clare Valley and McLaren Vale, and...
Taylors Jaraman Grenache

Taylors Jaraman McLaren Vale Grenache 2021

Always interesting to have a look at what a winery thinks of their wine, once one has done their own...
Taylors Jaraman Chardonnay

Taylors Jaraman Clare Valley/Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2024

Always fascinating to see regional blends, especially when they are a bit left field. No matter, it works. The result...
Taylors Jaraman Sauvignon Blanc

Taylors Jaraman Margaret River/Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2024

An interesting blend of regions – Margaret River and Adelaide Hills – provide the material for this appealingly crisp Savvy,...
Cullen ()

Cullen Diana Madeline 2023

Put bluntly, this is perhaps the finest young Australian Cabernet I can recall seeing. It is simply brilliant. The blend...

Stories

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...

Artisans of the Barossa (2021 Grenache Project)

One of the more interesting projects currently afloat in Aussie wine at the moment, especially appropriate given the skyrocketing interest...

Alkina – The Curious Box of Paradoxes

Alkina is a curious box of paradoxes. Seemingly unlimited resources but still tiny; a small local operation yet part of...

Cumulus and Quilty & Gransden

They say that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. Perhaps, but I would suggest that the Australian wine industry...

Greenock Creek New Releases 2021

It was back in 1984 that the first grapes were picked for the inaugural vintage from Greenock Creek wines. Taken...
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