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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.
TheDorrienBankCabernetSauvignonBottle

Hewitson The Dorrien Bank Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

In 2019, boundaries were realigned in the sub-region of Dorrien in the Barossa Valley, resulting in three hectares of Cabernet...
Old Garden

Hewitson Old Garden Vine Mourvèdre 2022

The Old Garden Vineyard, planted in the Barossa back in 1853, is home to the oldest Mourvèdre vines on the...
Monopole Shiraz

Hewitson Monopole Mother Vine Shiraz 2022

The team located a single Shiraz vine from 1853 in the middle of their Old Garden Vineyard. Over many years,...
MissHarry

Hewitson Miss Harry GSM 2024

The blend for this absolutely delicious GSM is 51% Grenache, 30% Shiraz and 19% Mourvèdre. The team use 70% whole...
Riposte Cutlass Shiraz NEW Bottle NV

Riposte The Cutlass Shiraz 2024

From a single vineyard in the Adelaide Hills, this wine suggests that this is another fine vintage for the region....
Shiraz NV

Welland Barossa Valley 1846 Shiraz 2024

The fruit for this thoroughly enjoyable Barossa Shiraz is sourced from vineyards across the Valley. The aim is a style...
Cape Landing Single Vineyard Chardonnay NV

Cape Landing Chardonnay 2024

The fruit sourced here comes from a range of clones, including the Gingin clone, known as the backbone for so...
Lake Doctor Shiraz WEB

Zonte’s Footsteps Lake Doctor Shiraz Langhorne Creek 2023

It seems that one of the tragedies of modernity is that the design of the new stadium in Perth prevents...
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Frankland Estate Shiraz 2023

An impressive red from the wonderful 2023 vintage, fermentation was achieved as slowly as possible, followed by an extended maceration...
FE Cab Sav NV x

Frankland Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

It seems that the glories of the 2023 vintage can be found in wine regions across the State. First plantings...
FE Riesling non vintage x HR

Frankland Estate Riesling 2025

Cracking value Riesling from the Great Southern in Western Australia, the wine is fermented almost entirely in stainless steel and...
FE Chardonnay Non Vintage web

Frankland Estate Chardonnay 2024

The fruit for this really impressive Chardonnay comes from the Isolation Ridge Vineyard in the Great Southern region of Western...
StJohns Brook SauvignonBlanc NoVint

St Johns Brook Sauvignon Blanc 2025

A bright and exuberant Margaret River Savvy, the colour here is a gleaming green gold. The wine opens with attractive...
Opt Cab Sav NV

St Johns The Terraces Optimus Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Always exciting to see flagship wines which have been given some time in the cellar before release. This cracking Margaret...
Opt Chard NV

St Johns The Terraces Optimus Chardonnay 2025

This flagship Margaret River Chardonnay is certainly youthful, but it is surely heading in the right direction. Near transparent yellow...
ATCF SSB NV

St Johns As the Crow Flies Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2025

What they used to call the Margaret River Classic Dry White, this blend sees a slight majority in favour of...
StJohnsBrook CabernetSauvignon NoVint ()

St Johns Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

A fine Margaret River Cabernet, which is great buying. Dark plum/magenta in colour, on the nose we have notes of...
StJohnsBrook CabernetSauvignon NoVint ()

St Johns Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

It is the amazing 2023 vintage in Margaret River which has been deluged with accolades, and deservedly so, but on...
StJohnsBrook Shiraz NoVint

St Johns Brook Shiraz 2024

A most impressive Shiraz from Margaret River. The colour is a gloriously vibrant dark purple. On the nose, we have...
Neldner

Neldner Road Shiraz 2022

Dave Powell is very much a Barossa institution and his wines from this new operation are proving to be quite...
Superstition Reserve Riesling for website

Claymore Superstition Watervale Reserve Riesling 2025

Another superb Clare Valley Riesling from the Watervale sub-region, the fruit comes from a dry grown vineyard with vines in...

Mandala Sands Pinot Noir 2025

Pinot Noir sourced from a combination of Yarra Valley sub-regions, Dixon’s Creek and Yarra Junction to the fore. The vines...

Mandala Sands Chardonnay 2025

An excellent Yarra Valley Chardonnay, the fruit is whole bunch pressed before being transferred to a mix of new, one-...
Parker Estate Scarlett Block Cabernet Sauvignon

Parker Estate Scarlett Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The pick of the new Vineyard Series is surely this delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. The Scarlett Block is part of the...

Stories

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There is surely no wine region in this country which has more elite wineries than Margaret River. The advantage for...
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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