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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.
Neldner

Neldner Road Shiraz 2022

Dave Powell is very much a Barossa institution and his wines from this new operation are proving to be quite...
Superstition Reserve Riesling for website

Claymore Superstition Watervale Reserve Riesling 2025

Another superb Clare Valley Riesling from the Watervale sub-region, the fruit comes from a dry grown vineyard with vines in...
Parker Estate Scarlett Block Cabernet Sauvignon

Parker Estate Scarlett Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The pick of the new Vineyard Series is surely this delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. The Scarlett Block is part of the...
Parker Estate Rocky Block Shiraz

Parker Estate Rocky Block Shiraz 2023

Also part of the new Vineyard Series is this thoroughly enjoyable Shiraz. The Rocky Block is on McLeod’s Tirrike Vineyard...
Parker Estate Mill Block Chardonnay

Parker Estate Mill Block Chardonnay 2025

Parker Estate has introduced a new Vineyard Series to their portfolio, which replaces the old Cool Climate range. It is...
Tapanappa PiccadillyValley Vineyard Chardonnay ()

Tapanappa Chardonnay Piccadilly Valley 2025

The 2025 vintage in the Adelaide Hills is the warmest, driest and earliest vintage on record, certainly providing a change...
arneis nv

Holm Oak Arneis 2025

Arneis may never have been destined for the mainstream, but I’m always a little surprised that it hasn’t taken off...
chardonnay nv

Holm Oak Chardonnay 2025

Three clones of Chardonnay were used here, with the fruit coming from two discrete blocks. A natural fermentation in barrel,...
protege pinot noir nv

Holm Oak The Protégé Pinot Noir 2025

It is by design that the team ensure that this wine is more fruit forward and slightly lighter than what...
pinot gris nv

Holm Oak Pinot Gris 2025

The team here were very pleased with the quality of fruit from the 2025 vintage when it came to their...
IOSD Pinot Noir Bottle Shot

Island of Sliding Doors Pinot Noir 2025

Impressive Tassie Pinot Noir here, sourced from vineyards in the Coal River Valley and Derwent sub-regions. The Coal River Vineyard...
Gilo Special Reserve Shiraz ()

GILO McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022

McLaren Vale Shiraz from an excellent producer and a stellar vintage, hard to go wrong. The colour is a black/...
IOSD Chardonnay Bottle Shot

Island of Sliding Doors Chardonnay 2025

A thoroughly enjoyable Tasmanian Chardonnay, sourced from the Coal River Valley and Derwent sub-regions. The vines were planted in 2017...
Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay Bottle Shot

Leeuwin Estate Margaret River Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay 2024

Given that the Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay is always considered one of our very best Chardonnays, each vintage, it...
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Riesling Bottle Shot

Leeuwin Estate Margaret River Riesling 2025

Commonly known as the Frog Wine, thanks to John Olsen’s wonderful painting for the label, Leeuwin Estate have long persisted...
shiraz NV

O’Leary Walker Clare Valley Polish Hill River Armagh Shiraz 2023

Sourced from the Clare Valley sub-regions of Polish Hill River and Armagh, the batches are fermented separately with maturation for...
Cabernet NV

O’Leary Walker Clare Valley Polish Hill River Armagh Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

The fruit for this fine Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon comes from two vineyards, the Doctors Block in the Polish Hill...
Henschke Peggy's Hill Riesling EV S nonknurled Over

Henschke Peggy’s Hill Eden Valley Riesling 2025

This is the 20th anniversary vintage of this always popular and impressive Eden Valley Riesling. Of course, it seems only...
Henschke Julius Riesling S onwards nonknurled Over ()

Henschke Julius Eden Valley Riesling 2025

A flagship Riesling from an excellent Eden Valley vintage, this is pale lemon in colour. Attractively fresh on the nose,...
Henschke Percival's Mill AH S ()

Henschke Percival’s Mill Grúner Veltliner 2025

This Austrian variety has made a most welcome second home in the Adelaide Hills. The colour is a pale straw/lemon,...
Henschke Johanne Ida Selma Disg L USE ()

Henschke Johanne Ida Selma Blanc de Noir MD

This has long been one of Australia’s favourite Blanc de Noirs sparklers, and always one of the best of that...
Henschke Green's Hill Riesling AH S ()

Henschke Green’s Hill Riesling Adelaide Hills 2025

This is the first vintage released of this wine from the Adelaide Hills, since the tragic fires of 2019. The...
Henschke Joseph Hill AH S ()

Henschke Joseph Hill Gewürztraminer 2025

Lemon/green in colour, the nose is unmistakable. It could be nothing but Gewürz. The aromatics on offer include ginger, musk,...
Rivah Tempranillo NoYear

Gill Estate Rivah Tempranillo 2024

The colour for this Victorian Tempranillo is a blood red/russet. Aromas of cherries, raspberries, florals and even a touch of...

Stories

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...

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...
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