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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.
Stonehaven LVR Padthaway Ner d'Avola NV

Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Padthaway Nero d’Avola 2025

Another Italian immigrant, this example of Nero is grown in the Padthaway region. The grape is making some very fine...
Stonehaven LVR Padthaway Montepulciano NV

Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Padthaway Montepulciano 2025

Montepulciano is one of those late arrivals from Italy and it seems to be showing more promise than many of...
Stonehaven LVR Padthaway Sangiovese NV

Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Padthaway Sangiovese 2024

Sangiovese from the Padthaway region, the colour here is a crimson/red. The nose reveals notes of charcuterie, herbs, red fruits,...
Stonehaven LVR Padthaway Pinot Noir NV

Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Padthaway Pinot Noir 2025

A more serious iteration of Pinot Noir, this comes from vineyards in the Padthaway region. The colour is garnet/russet. An...
Stonehaven Stepping Stone Pinot Noir NV

Stonehaven Stepping Stone Limestone Coast Pinot Noir 2025

The fruit has been sourced from vineyards across the Limestone Coast for this very good value Pinot Noir. Light crimson/ruby...
Stonehaven Reserve Chardonnay Padthaway NV

Stonehaven Reserve Chardonnay Padthaway 2025

Under Diam, this is a most impressive Chardonnay from the Padthaway region. This wine represents the best fruit the team...
Stonehaven LVR Padthaway Riesling NV

Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Padthaway Riesling 2025

A fresh and attractive style of Riesling from the Padthaway region, this is an extremely pale lemon in colour. We...
Ulithorne Dona Shiraz NV

Ulithorne Dona Shiraz McLaren Vale 2022

A fine McLaren Vale Shiraz which has spent more than a year maturing in older French oak, this is excellent...
Devitt & Moore Captain D Bruce CabSauv NV

Devitt & Moore Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Always good to see wines which have been allowed to mature in the wineries’ cellars before release. This one is...
Gartner CabSauv NV

Gartner Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra 2021

A fine Coonawarra Cabernet from a great vintage, this is definitely worth seeking out, for the enjoyment it offers now and...
Reschke R Series Shiraz NV

Reschke R-Series Shiraz 2024

Shiraz from the Limestone Coast, the colour here is a deep maroon. The nose offers notes of chocolate and plums,...
Reschke R Series Pinot Gris

Reschke R-Series Pinot Gris 2025

A bright and zesty version of Pinot Gris from the Limestone Coast, the colour here is pale lemon. A most...
Rose ()

Gundog Estate Hilltops Rosé 2025

This is undoubtedly one of the better Rosé’s of the year. The winery team moved from their traditional Cabernet Sauvignon-based...
Hilltops Shiraz No

Gundog Estate Hilltops Shiraz No. 1 2024

Also from the superb 2024 vintage, this is a blend from various vineyards from the Hilltops, providing for a richer...
Hilltops Shiraz No

Gundog Estate Hilltops Shiraz No. 2 2024

2024 has proved to be an excellent vintage for the Hilltops region. The aim here was to highlight the savouriness...
Innocence Rosé

Chain of Ponds Innocence Adelaide Hills Rosé 2025

This most attractive Adelaide Hills Rosé is a blend of 46% Sangiovese, 39% Tempranillo, 10% Grenache and 5% Pinot Noir....
COPAmeliasLetterPinotGrisNV

Chain of Ponds Amelia’s Letter Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris 2025

The fruit here comes from a single vineyard in the Kenton Valley, a district in the Adelaide Hills, from an...
COPMorningStarPinotNoirNV

Chain of Ponds Morning Star Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2023

Three vineyards in the Adelaide Hills provided the fruit for this excellent Pinot Noir. One from Kuitpo, one from Woodside...
Chain of Ponds Black Thursday Sauvignon Blanc NV

Chain of Ponds Black Thursday Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2025

This Adelaide hills Savvy is sourced from ten vineyards across the region. The colour here is a very pale lemon,...
Field of Dreams Chenin Blanc

Moss Brothers Field of Dreams Chenin Blanc 2025

It seems that Chenin Blanc still holds a place in the hearts of our friends from the West who thankfully...
Moses Rock Chenin Blanc

Moss Brothers Moses Rock Chenin Blanc 2025

Margaret River Chenin Blanc, the wine spent three months on lees in a mix of stainless steel and older oak...
Moses Rock Sauv Blanc

Moss Brothers Moses Rock Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2025

A light lemon hue here, the nose reveals notes of citrus, nettles, peaches, spices and lemon curd. There is a...
MossBros Fidium Shiraz

Moss Brothers Fidium Shiraz Margaret River 2023

Margaret River Shiraz from an absolutely stellar vintage, and this wine reflects that quality throughout. Maturation was in French oak...
Rags to Riches Sauv Blanc

Byron & Harold Rags to Riches Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Margaret River Savvy can tend to the herbaceous if the makers are not careful, but no fear of that here....

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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...

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...
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