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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.
La Lutte Rose

Armstrong La Lutte Victorian Rosé 2024

The fruit for this fresh Rosé hails from vineyards in Victoria. The colour is a pale, vibrant pink, while the...
Malbec NV

Knappstein Clare Valley Malbec 2022

Wines made from a single varietal, Malbec, are somewhat, shall we say, variable in quality. So it is always a...
Pinot Gris

Knappstein Clare Valley Pinot Gris 2024

A lot of regions have stuck up their hand to claim they are Australia’s best Pinot Gris district. The Clare...
The Insider Riesling

Knappstein The Insider Clare Valley Riesling 2024

A seriously interesting style of Riesling, from the Clare Valley and an excellent vintage there. The team divided the fruit...
st off the rank

Zonte’s Footstep 1st Off the Rank Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The name here comes from the team’s process of barrel selection – only the best barrels are chosen for this...
Lady Marmalade

Zonte’s Footstep Lady Marmalade Vermentino 2024

Fabulous name for this delicious Vermentino from the Fleurieu Peninsula, specifically blocks at the mouth of the Goolwa River. Only...
Age of Enlightenment Bottle shot

Zonte’s Footstep Age of Enlightenment Shiraz 2020

Shiraz from McLaren Vale which spent a year and a half maturing in a mix of new and older French...
Hills are Alive Shiraz

Zonte’s Footstep Hills are Alive Shiraz 2022

As the team says, the flavours here are a few of their favourite things. Who isn’t channelling their inner Julie...
FAIRRR NV Website Bottle Shot

Feudo Arancio Riserva 2020

The key red variety in Sicily is Nero d’Avola and this is a delicious example. The team use stainless steel...
MOPRSL NEW NV Website Bottle Shot

Mottura Primitivo Salento ICT 2023

Absolutely delicious red from the Primitivo grape, also known as Zinfandel, from the Puglia region in Italy. Gleaming dark red/crimson...
SWSBBO NV Website Bottle Shot

Silkwood The Bowers Sauvignon Blanc 2024

West Aussie Savvy, from the Pemberton region, this is pale lemon in colour. The nose has herbal and grassy notes,...
SWPNWC NV Website Bottle Shot

Silkwood Estate The Walcott Pinot Noir 2023

West Aussie Pinot continues its ascendency. This fine example is from a single vineyard in Pemberton. It spends ten months...
SWMEBO NV Website Bottle Shot

Silkwood Estate The Bowers Merlot 2020

Pemberton Merlot which spent fifteen months in French oak, 25% new. The colour here is bright red/garnet, with the nose...
MMROXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Mezzacorona Maso di Mezzo Pinot Gris Rosé 2023

From the Trentino Alto Adige region of Italy, it may seem curious to have a white variety behind a Rosé,...
CDROLR NV Website Bottle Shot

La Resistance Cotes du Rhône Rosé 2023

From the Rhône Valley in France, this is under cork (surely screw caps would be ideal for this style of...
SWCHBO NV Website Bottle Shot

Silkwood Estate The Bowers Chardonnay 2022

A fine Chardonnay from the Pemberton region in Western Australia, this is a wine of real promise and good value....
TOPGXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Tolloy Pinot Grigio 2023

Pinot Grigio from its spiritual home at Alto Adige (Sudtirol) in northern Italy. Under cork. A deep straw colour, this...
HESSXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2023

Western Australia made a real impact with this blend some years ago, when it became known as the Classic Dry...
FAROXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Feudo Arancio Rosato ICT 2023

Sicilian Rosé, something you can’t refuse. Under cork. Perfumes of strawberries, lavender, cherries, raspberries and red fruits galore. The colour...
SWSHWC NV Website Bottle Shot

Silkwood Estate The Walcott Shiraz 2019

This West Aussie Shiraz from Pemberton has a 5% dollop of Malbec included. The wine spent sixteen months in French...
HOLLICK RAVENSWOOD CAB SAV RGB MASKED

Hollick Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

This has long been one of the leading premium Coonawarra Cabernets and has been since its first release in 1988....
Briar Ridge Big Bully Cabernet Sauvignon Stonefields Vineyard Wrattonbully

Briar Ridge Big Bully Cabernet Stonefields Vineyard 2022

Wrattonbully Cabernet from a very fine vintage, the wine spent a year and a half in French oak barriques, 40%...
Briar Ridge Block Pinot Noir Orange

Briar Ridge Block 6 Pinot Noir Orange 2024

Orange district Pinot Noir, which has been crafted from three clones – 114, 115 and 777 – with 100% whole...
Briar Ridge Ampelus Saignee Shiraz Tempranillo

Briar Ridge Ampelus Syrah Tempranillo 2024

The second release of this wine, a blend of Shiraz and Tempranillo from their Tallavera Grove vineyard in the Hunter...

Stories

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...

Greenock Creek New Releases 2021

It was back in 1984 that the first grapes were picked for the inaugural vintage from Greenock Creek wines. Taken...
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