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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.
Coonawarra Sauvignon Blanc ()

Hollick Premium Coonawarra Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Plenty of life in this enjoyable Coonawarra Sauvignon Blanc, which is soft and approachable. It does remain a little more...
OLD VINES CAB SAV ()

Hollick Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The fruit here is selected from vineyards at the cooler southern end of Coonawarra, which is where the Estate has...
Wrattonbully shiraz ()

Hollick Wrattonbully Shiraz 2022

The team’s Shiraz vineyard in Wrattonbully offers similar shallow terra rossa soils over limestone, as is found in Coonawarra. The...
Coonawarra Shiraz ()

Hollick Premium Coonawarra Shiraz 2022

A far more traditional style of Shiraz here, the colour is a blood red/maroon. On the nose, we have attractive...
The Gondolier Barbera

Hollick Pushing the Boundaries Barbera 2024

Good Barbera is a woefully underrated wine, and this is a good Barbera. The grapes come from the Estate’s Italian...
The Bard Shiraz

Hollick The Bard Shiraz 2022

Labelled as Limestone Coast, the fruit is actually a blend from both Wrattonbully and Coonawarra. Dark maroon with a russet...
IMG Edited

Hollick Premium Coonawarra Syrah 2023

Traditionally in Australia, the use of Syrah instead of the much more usual Shiraz on a label indicates a more...
MitchellPepper

Mitchell Peppertree Vineyard Clare Valley Shiraz 2019

A fine Clare Valley Shiraz which already has the benefit of half a dozen years development, quite amazing when one...
DAOSA front

Daosa Blanc de Blancs 2021

The 2021 vintage is proving to be a superb one in the Adelaide Hills for table wines, and it looks...
Daosa Bl de Bl Trans NEW

Daosa Blanc de Blancs Late Disgorged 2017

This is a single vineyard wine from the team’s Chardonnay vineyard at Summerton in the sub-region of the Piccadilly Valley...
Pinot Grigio ()

Tomich Hill Adelaide Hills Pinot Grigio 2025

Young, fresh and exuberant Adelaide Hills Pinot Grigio, the colour is pale straw. Quite a juicy style, the nose gives...
Tomich Vintage Cuvee? Visual

Tomich Hill Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay Adelaide Hills Vintage Cuvée

A pale bronze, even rather rose hue. The nose gives us notes of raspberries, freshly toasted bread, stone fruits, florals...
WoodsideVineyard Chardonnay ()

Tomich Adelaide Hills Woodside Chardonnay 2022

From the Adelaide Hills, the Woodside sub-region, this is a thoroughly enjoyable Chardonnay with a yellow/straw hue. Taut, poised, it...
Sauvignon Blanc

Tomich Hill Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Delightfully fresh and youthful, as is of course to be expected, the colour of this Adelaide Hills Savvy is a...
Paracombe Plateau Pinot Noir NV

Paracombe Plateau Pinot Noir 2022

Old vines on Parracombe Plateau, whole-bunch fermented, wild yeasts, matured in French oak, unfiltered. Rustic red fruit, dried herb notes....
Paracombe Plateau Blanc

Paracombe Adelaide Hills Plateau Blanc NV

An enjoyable sparkler from the Adelaide Hills, this is made with Pinot Blanc. Even though we rarely see fizz from...
Paracombe Pinot Noir Chardonnay

Paracombe Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2023 Release

The fruit for this fresh and bright sparkling wine from the Adelaide Hills includes small quantities of fruit harvested from...
Paracombe Sauvignon Blanc

Paracombe Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Good value Adelaide Hills Savvy here, from an impressive vintage, harvested from the estate and family vineyards. The colour is...
Paracombe Pinot Noir NV

Paracombe Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2024

The fruit used here is selected from two different Adelaide Hills vineyards, which represent a range of Pinot Noir clones....
Paracombe Plateau Pinot Noir NV

Paracombe Adelaide Hills Plateau Pinot Noir 2022

The wine comes from the team’s original 1983 plantings. The best barrel is selected each year. The vineyard providing these...
Paracombe Somerville Shiraz NV

Paracombe Somerville Shiraz 2015

The name of this wine is a tribute to James Somerville, an early Paracombe pioneer who first planted vines in...
ARTISAN CW CAB SAUV

Allegiance The Artisan Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

2024 is proving to be an excellent vintage in the Coonawarra region for their legendary Cabernets. This example comes from...
ARTISAN MV SHIRAZ

Allegiance The Artisan McLaren Vale Shiraz 2024

From a vineyard in the McLaren Flat subregion of McLaren Vale, the fruit here was destemmed prior to fermentation and...
COX TUMBARUMBA CHARD

Cox Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2025

Tumbarumba Chardonnay from a single vineyard located a lofty 530 metres above sea level. Fermentation was in French oak, 15%...

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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