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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.
Renzaglia Wambuul Shiraz web

Renzaglia Wambuul Shiraz 2024

Garnet/magenta hue, the nose reveals spices, kirsch, mulberries, bay leaves, sage, cranberries, dried herbs, leather and cloves. A sleek and...
Renzaglia Wambuul Cab web

Renzaglia Wambuul Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

Opaque maroon, on the nose we have a mix of tobacco leaves, dark chocolate, blackberries, graphite, spices, beef stock and...
P&J WJJ Reserve Pinot Noir small file size

Pike & Joyce W.J.J. Reserve Pinot Noir 2024

The excellent 2024 vintage has provided a number of thoroughly impressive bottles of Pinot Noir from Lenswood in the Adelaide...
P&J The Kay Chardonnay small file size

Pike & Joyce The Kay Reserve Chardonnay 2024

A most intriguing and even slightly exotic Chardonnay from the Lenswood sub-region in the Adelaide Hills, fermentation was in French...
P&J Gruner Veltliner Separe Smaller File Size

Pike & Joyce Separe Grüner Veltliner 2025

Grüner Veltliner from the Lenswood region in the Adelaide Hills, fermentation was in stainless steel. Although perhaps drier than some...
P&J Chardonnay Pinot Noir Smaller File Size

Pike & Joyce Methode Traditionelle Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2020

An excellent Aussie sparkler with fruit sourced from high altitude vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, specifically Lenswood. Fermentation is in...
Pinot Miceli

Miceli Lucy’s Choice Pinot Noir 2021

Always impressive to see Pinot Noir given a few years in the cellar before release to allow it to reveal...
Chardonnay Miceli

Miceli Olivia’s Chardonnay 2022

This Mornington Peninsula estate is well known for allowing its wines some time in the cellar before release, much to...
MOSAIQUE ROSE

Mosaique Organic Mediterranée IGP 2025

The Mediterranée IGP basically covers the South-Eastern region in France, known as Provence, plus parts of the Rhône Valley. This...
BRISE ROSE

Brise Maritime Mediterranée IGP 2025

With summer in Australia, it is a wonder that we drink anything other than a good glass of chilled Rosé....
X PROVENCE ROSE

X Provence 2025

From the highly regarded Coteaux Varois sub-region of Provence in the southeastern parts of France, this impressive Rosé is crafted...
LUMIERE PROVENCE ROSE

Lumière Provence 2025

As we regularly see with Provencal Rosé, the grapes of Grenache Noir, Cinsault and Syrah are all prominent. In this...
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De Iuliis Chardonnay Hunter Valley 2024

Perhaps better known for his Semillon than his Chardonnay, as indeed is the Hunter Valley itself, Mike de Iuliis continues...
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Jean Collet Chablis 2024

There is no question how much locals love their Chardonnay and for those looking to expand their horizons, Chablis is...
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Luminant Chardonnay Yarra Valley 2024

This new label from the Yarra Valley has brought in Charles Smedley from Mandala Wines to ensure it is off...
Domaine de CALA

CALA Coteaux Varois en Provence Rosé 2024

There is a reason that Provencal Rosé is loved around the world and that is all encompassed in this wine....
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Anthony Girard La Clef du Recit Sancerre 2024

In 2012 Anthony Girard had the opportunity, rather rare these days, to acquire an 8.5 hectare estate and to forge...
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Bella Modella Prosecco Extra Dry

An attractively packaged Prosecco, the team have deliberately avoided malolactic fermentation, a decision which assists in the brightness and freshness...
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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...
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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...
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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...

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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