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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.
Chardonnay

Cloudbreak Nouveau Collection Chardonnay 2024

Great value and a rather delicious Chardy from the Adelaide Hills, this is a gleaming yellow hue. A refined and...
Jack Estate Chardonnay

Jack Estate Coonawarra Chardonnay 2022

The fruit here comes from a single parcel in Coonawarra. It underwent barrel fermentation in French oak. A yellow/gold hue,...
Jack Estate Pinot Gris

Jack Estate Limestone Coast Pinot Gris 2025

2025 is revealing itself to be another fine vintage for the Limestone Coast, here specifically the Robe region. Yellow gold...
Jack Estate Shiraz

Jack Estate Wrattonbully/Coonawarra Shiraz 2019

Coonawarra and Wrattonbully combine to provide the fruit for this fine regional Shiraz, which already has half a dozen years...
Mythology Shiraz ()

Jack Estate Mythology Shiraz 2013

Similar to other vintages of the Shiraz, for sourcing, fermentation and maturation, if you are looking for mature wines, very...
Mythology Shiraz ()

Jack Estate Mythology Shiraz 2012

Not often we get to enjoy a wine of such age, which comes from a great region and a superb...
Mythology Cabernet Sauvignon ()

Jack Estate Mythology Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Another cracking red wine, Cabernet this time, with so many years under its belt already, from a great vintage, top...
Mythology Cabernet Sauvignon ()

Jack Estate Mythology Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Again, this wine replicates the sourcing, fermentation and maturation we saw with the 2015 Cabernet. Maroon in colour, there are...
Mythology Shiraz ()

Jack Estate Mythology Shiraz 2014

The fruit sourcing, fermentation and maturation reflect that undertaken by the 2015 Shiraz. Wonderful to see such well-priced wines on...
Mythology Cabernet Sauvignon ()

Jack Estate Mythology Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Seriously well priced for a wine which has ten years under its belt, this Coonawarra Cabernet came from the sub-regions...
Mythology Shiraz ()

Jack Estate Mythology Shiraz 2015

The fruit for this very fine Coonawarra Shiraz came from the subregions of Glenroy and Comaum. The parcels were fermented...
Jack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ()

Jack Estate Coonawarra/Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Coonawarra provides almost three-quarters of the fruit for this blend, with the remaining quarter coming from Wrattonbully. Blood red/maroon in...
Jack Estate Shiraz

Jack Estate Coonawarra/Wrattonbully Shiraz 2017

Another fine blend of fruit sourced from both Coonawarra and Wrattonbully, a 92.3% and 7.7% split respectively. Dark maroon/purple with...
Jack Estate Shiraz

Jack Estate Wrattonbully/Coonawarra Shiraz 2018

2018 has proved itself to be a legendary vintage across the Wrattonbully and Coonawarra regions. The blend is 90.3% Wrattonbully...
Bone Dry Pinot Noir NV

Bone Dry Pinot Noir 2024

As the label says, the level of residual sweetness here is less than one gram per litre. In other words,...
Reschke R series Pinot Noir NV

Reschke R-Series Pinot Noir 2025

A fresh and youthful style of Pinot Noir here, the fruit comes from the Limestone Coast. The colour is a...
Stonehaven LVR Padthaway Shiraz NV

Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Padthaway Shiraz 2025

From the Padthaway region in South Australia, this cracking Shiraz underwent barrel fermentation, before a further year and a half...
Stonehaven LVR Mt Benson Shiraz NV

Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Mt Benson Shiraz 2024

Shiraz from the Mt Benson region in South Australia, the colour is that of bruised plums/maroon. The nose reveals aromas...
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...

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...
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...
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