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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.
Arila Gardens Single Vineyard Shiraz

Arila Gardens Moppa Single Vineyard Shiraz 2023

This represents the very best Shiraz from their Arila Gardens vineyard in the Moppa sub-region, with the vines dating back...
Arila Gardens Moppa GSM

Arila Gardens Moppa GSM 2023

The fruit for this gem is sourced from two Barossa vineyards, not surprisingly from the Moppa sub-region in the Barossa...
Lange FifthGen Shiraz

Lange Estate Fifth Generation Shiraz 2023

Makes an exciting pair with the Estate’s delicious Cabernet and, if anything, this is even more impressive. From the Frankland...
Lange FifthGen CabSauv

Lange Estate Fifth Generation Cabernet 2023

From the Frankland River region, this is excellent buying. A deep maroon hue, there are concentrated aromas here, led by...
Lange Providence Road Cab Sauv

Lange Estate Providence Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

The Providence Road range, also from Frankland River, is a step up from the team’s Fifth Generation wines, although both...
Lange Providence Road Shiraz

Lange Estate Providence Road Shiraz 2023

A wonderful Frankland River Shiraz, showing just how impressive this region can be. And, as we have come to expect...
Chardonnay mockup

Clonakilla Chardonnay 2024

Tim Kirk sources his Chardonnay from high altitude – around 700 metres – vineyards in Tumbarumba. It would be fair...
Pinot Noir mockup

Clonakilla Pinot Noir 2024

A wine made in little more than a dribble, quantities are so small, but Pinotphiles would be wise to seek...
syrah

Clonakilla Syrah 2023

Tiny quantities only for this stunning Syrah, but do what you can to get hold of some. Yes, sell your...
Viognier mockup

Clonakilla Viognier 2024

Always one of Australia’s most exciting Viogniers, from the Canberra region, fermentation is in large format French oak – demi-muids...
Howard Park Granite Ridge Rose x

Howard Park Granite Ridge Rosé 2024

A Shiraz dominant Rosé from Margaret River, fermentation was in a mix of stainless steel and older French oak. The...
NV Howard Park Blanc de Blancs xpx

Howard Park Methodé Traditionnelle Blanc de Blancs NV

100% Chardonnay from the Pemberton and Mt Barker regions, this release is based on the 2022 vintage and spent twenty-one...
ParsonsPaddockCabSauvNV

Parson’s Paddock South Australia Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Cabernet sourced from various South Aussie regions and fermented/matured in a mix of French and American oak. This is from...
Birdhouse In Your Soul Rose NV x

Claymore Birdhouse in your Soul Rosé 2024

A Rosé that is actually based on a white variety – Riesling in this case – almost seems a rarity...
Nirvana Reserve Shiraz Square

Claymore Nirvana Reserve Shiraz 2022

The team use their best Shiraz, from their estate vineyards in the Watervale sub-region, to craft this wine, which has...
grand pappy

1847 Grand Pappy’s Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021

Old vine Barossa Shiraz from a stellar vintage – what more could you want? Under cork. An opaque maroon, this...
First Pick Shiraz

1847 First Pick Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021

Another special Barossa Shiraz, from old vines, low yields and a fabulous vintage. If you love big, bold Barossa reds,...
Lake Road NV MSB website ()

Lake Road Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023

This is a typical, though very well performing Sauvignon Blanc from the region now world famous for the variety. A...
Caretaker Cabernet NV

Paracombe Caretaker Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

From vines, just 425 of them, originally planted in the Adelaide Hills back in the mid-90s, only 390 bottles were...
Paracombe Shiraz NV

Paracombe Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2018

Another absolute cracking wine from the Adelaide Hills, again with considerable maturation time in the cellar already under its belt....
Paracombe Reserve Chardonnay NV

Paracombe Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2021

From an Adelaide Hills vineyard planted back in 1983, the juice went to a 500-litre French oak puncheon for a...
Paracombe The Reuben NV

Paracombe Adelaide Hills The Reuben 2018

Always a pleasure to see wines which have been held back for ageing before release (and worth noting that this...
Knee Deep Birdhouse Cabernet Sauvignon

Knee Deep Birdhouse Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The Birdhouse range seem to inevitably offer terrific drinking and good value and perhaps none more so than this compelling...
Knee Deep Third Rule Cabernet Sauvignon

Knee Deep Third Rule Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

The final blend for the estate’s prestige Cabernet release is a barrel selection, after spending fifteen months in French oak....

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...
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...

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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