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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.
bella modella la farfalla pinot grigio pk bottle image

Bella Modella Pinot Grigio Terre Abruzzo IGT 2024

The fruit for this bright Pinot Grigio comes from the clay soils of the Terre di Chieti in Abruzzo, where...
Elodie Roy Bourgogne PN

Domaine Elodie Roy Bourgogne 2022

Elodie Roy spent over a decade working with Domaine Anne Gros in Burgundy, ensuring a most impressive CV. After taking...
brave souls the whaler shiraz pk bottle image

Brave Souls The Whaler Shiraz 2024

A reasonably equal blend of Shiraz from the Eden Valley and Barossa Valley, this is absolutely delicious drinking. The team...
domaine elodie roy HCB rouge pk bottle image

Domaine Elodie Roy Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Beaune 2022

This Burgundy, from the highly regarded 2022 vintage, is a blend from across three sites. 60% whole bunches are used...
DiFabioGrandReserveShiraz

Di Fabio Grand Reserve Shiraz 2021

From the superb 2021 vintage, it would be fair to expect much from this wine. And it delivers. Opaque maroon...
DiFabioBushVineShiraz

Di Fabio Bush Vine Reserve Shiraz 2019

Impressive stuff here. The wine enjoyed two years maturation in small French oak casks. Dark maroon, this is a lovely...
DiFabioWinemakersSelection

Di Fabio Winemakers Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Merlot 2017

A well crafted Bordeaux Blend with some serious age on it will always be worth consideration. The colour is deep...
Curtis Small Batch McLaren Vale Tempranillo ()

Curtis McLaren Vale Small Batch Tempranillo 2024

The fruit for this excellent and enjoyable Tempranillo came from 20-year-old vines in the McLaren Vale region. Maturation was in...
Curtis Ancestor McLaren Vale Shiraz ()

Curtis Ancestor McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022

Under Diam, this is impressive stuff. Maturation was for three years in fine grained French oak hogsheads, all of which...
Curtis Sparkling South Australia Pinot Noir Rosè

Curtis Sparkling Pinot Rosé NV

A thoroughly enjoyable sparkling Rosé made from Pinot Noir, the colour is a lovely yet gentle pale pink. Fresh and...
Curtis Small Batch South Australia Pinot Noir ()

Curtis McLaren Vale Small Batch Pinot Noir 2023

From 40-year-old vines, fermentation was over two weeks, before maturation in a mix of new and two-year-old French oak barrels....
Curtis Claudius McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon

Curtis Claudius McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon from the sensational 2021 vintage, the wine is under Diam. Wild fermentation over three weeks, followed...
Curtis Small Batch McLaren Vale Grenache ()

Curtis McLaren Vale Small Batch Grenache 2023

The Small Batch program here throws up some gems on occasion and this is one of them. McLaren Vale Grenache...
Leconfield Cabernet Franc NV()

Leconfield Cabernet Franc 2024

Cabernet Franc from a single vineyard in Coonawarra, and the excellent 2022 vintage, this has an attractive dark crimson/maroon hue....
Leconfield Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon

Leconfield Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Leconfield remains one of those always reliable if slightly under the radar operations, which have mastered the Coonawarra region’s great...
QO First Cross GSMNV

Aylesbury Estate QO5 Grenache Shiraz Tempranillo 2024

An attractive red blend from the Ferguson Valley in Western Australia, it comes from the estate’s vineyards. Maturation was in...
The Pater Series Cab Sauv

Aylesbury Estate The Pater Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The grapes for this Ferguson Valley Cabernet Sauvignon were destemmed with the fermentation seeing twice daily pump overs. Maturation was...
QO emperanillo

Aylesbury Estate QO5 Tempranillo 2023

A vibrant blood red hue, this Ferguson Valley Tempranillo has the most alluring nose. We see notes of dried herbs,...
QO Vermentino

Aylesbury Estate QO5 Vermentino 2025

Vermentino has certainly established itself in some of our warmer regions like McLaren Vale. It is now doing so across...
Waterfall Gully Sauvignon Blanc NV

Aylesbury Estate Waterfall Gully Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Even given the fact that winemakers across the land share much with politicians in terms of exaggeration, when they start...
The Mill Prosecco

Windowrie The Mill Prosecco NV

A brief six months of maturation on lees in tank for this rather delicious Prosecco from the Central Ranges region....
The Mill Pinot Noir

Windowrie The Mill Pinot Noir 2024

A rather agreeable and well-priced Pinot Noir from the Central Ranges region in New South Wales. The colour here is...
Windowrie The Mill Shiraz

Windowrie The Mill Shiraz 2024

A rather delicious Shiraz from the Central Ranges region in New South Wales, the team have employed various techniques to...
The Mill Chardonnay

Windowrie The Mill Chardonnay 2024

The name, “The Mill”, comes from the old flour mill, which was originally built in 1861 in the region, and...

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...
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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...
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