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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.
Piazzo Armando Barbera d Alba Fil Rus DOC ()

Piazzo Barbera d’Alba Fil Rus

Good Barbera from Piedmont must be the most underrated and overlooked wine imaginable. No doubt, retailers will tell me otherwise,...
Piazzo Armando Barbaresco Arge DOCG ()

Piazzo Barbaresco DOCG Argè 2022

There is much to like in this fine Barbaresco. Fermentation was in stainless steel before the wine spent a further...
EPC brut

EPC Champagne Brut NV

The first of two releases from a new champagne producer, established in 2019, which is placing an emphasis on transparency....
EPC blanc

EPC Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2022

The second wine in this set of releases from a new producer, the name EPC is apparently a play on...
Riposte Sabre PN NEW NV

Riposte The Sabre Pinot Noir 2025

A fresh and youthful Adelaide Hills Pinot, not a surprise given it is from the 2025 vintage, for which the...
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Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay 2025

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. A warmer than usual vintage, and dry one, resulted in very small...
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Cullen Diana Madeline 2024

2024 was always facing a tough task following on from the truly sensational 2023 vintage. In Margaret River however, wonderful...
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Gudilly Single Vineyard Rosé 2026

A delightfully fresh style of Rosé, from fruit grown in the Riverland, the split is 66% Pinot Gris and 34%...
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Angus the Bull Cabernet Sauvignon 2025

As always, the team aim to provide wines that are the “ideal accompaniment to prime beef”. They also aim to...
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Angus the Bull Black Angus Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

100% Cabernet all from Heathcote, the yield from the 2024 season was typically low, under two tonnes per acre. The...
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Angus the Bull Porterhouse Single Vineyard Shiraz 2024

From the Heathcote region, the final blend is 90% Shiraz and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fermentation was in stainless steel for...
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Knappstein Unearthed Malbec 2025

Always intriguing to see this variety made as a solo offering, rather than its usual role as a minor contributor...
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Knappstein Unearthed Sangiovese 2025

The fruit for this welcome Sangiovese hails from the Yertabulti vineyard, which is an elevated site to the east of...
DD Winemaker's Reserve Shiraz

Dowie Doole Reserve Shiraz 2022

A cracking McLaren Vale Shiraz from the Tatachilla sub-region, the vineyard was originally planted in 1974. Known as the California...
Ridgeveil Estate MB SavBlanc

Ridgeveil Estate Marlborough Sauv Blanc 2025

Vintage 2025 in Marlborough has been looked upon most generously by the gods of the vine. Production was extensive, which...
Torea Bay MB SavBlanc

Torea Bay Marlborough Sauv Blanc 2025

The last couple of months in Marlborough in 2024 were considerably warmer than usual, but the New Year brought a...
Moss Brothers Wild Garden Chenin Blanc

Moss Brothers Wild Garden Chenin Blanc 2025

The West has taken to Chenin Blanc in a way that the rest of the country really has not –...
Moss Brothers Moses Rock Chardonnay

Moss Brothers Moses Rock Chardonnay 2025

A fresh and youthful Chardonnay from the Margaret River region, the team look to combine fermentation in both stainless steel...
Byron & Harold Rags to Riches Chardonnay

Byron & Harold Rags to Riches Chardonnay 2025

The team offer a range of Chardonnays from the Margaret River region throughout their portfolio. This is definitely good value...
The Protocol Chardonnay

Byron & Harold The Protocol Chardonnay 2025

Just 4,512 bottles made of this premium Margaret River Chardonnay, the wine is made entirely from the famous gin gin...
Byron & Harold Rose & Thorns Cabernet Sauvignon

Byron & Harold Rose & Thorns Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

The fruit here, from the Great Southern region, was destemmed and crushed into the fermenters, inoculated, and pumped over twice...
Reschke BullTrader PD Chardonnay NV

Reschke Bull Trader Chardonnay 2025

The fruit here was sourced from vineyards in Padthaway. The aim was to ensure the ripeness of the grapes to...
Reschke Reserve CW Shiraz

Reschke Reserve Shiraz 2021

From the Coonawarra region, the fruit came from a 35-year-old vineyard planted on terra rossa soil. The team used a...
CapeBarren NativeGoose SavBlanc

Cape Barren Adelaide Hills Native Goose Sauvignon Blanc 2025

From the Adelaide Hills, this is a typical Savvy from that region, bursting with flavour. Fermentation was in stainless steel...

Stories

PEN NV SpeRel CabShiraz SouthAus Superblend B Duo Cork

Penfolds Superblend

Every Australian winelover will surely be aware of just how much Penfolds love to release special wines, whether they have...
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...
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