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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.
TerraFelix Regional Shiraz Heathcote NV no medals

Terra Felix Heathcote Shiraz 2018

From an excellent vintage in the Heathcote region in Victoria, this is a cracking Shiraz, representing excellent value. The team...
Little Wine Co Albarino

Little Wine Co Albarino 2025

Hunter Valley Albarino, specifically from the Broke Fordwich sub-region, the vineyard was planted in 2018. The wine saw no oak...
Little Wine Co LITTLE GEM PECORINO

Little Wine Co Little Gem Pecorino 2025

With this version of Pecorino, the team were looking to bring forth complexity and texture, rather than just the pristine...
Little Wine Co PECORINO

Little Wine Co Pecorino 2025

Pecorino, not to be confused with the cheese of the same name, is an Italian variety which was so dubbed,...
Little Wine Co VERMENTINO (x)

Little Wine Co Vermentino 2025

This delicious Italian variety is fast becoming a firm favourite among local wine lovers and surely headed for mainstream status....
Take it to the Grave Pinot Noir

Take it to the Grave Limestone Coast Pinot Noir 2025

The team was aiming to produce an expressive, good value and quality Pinot Noir with this wine. Not from the...
Wild Folk Pinot Noir S V

Wild Folk Natural Pinot Noir 2025

Natural wine can be divisive, but it is hard to imagine that many wine lovers would not enjoy this thoroughly...
Red Hut Chardonnay Side Deep Etched NV HR

Red Hut Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2024

The Hawkes Bay region in the North Island of New Zealand has proved to be an excellent source of quality...
Red Hut Pinot Noir Front Deep Etched NV HR

Red Hut Central Otago Pinot Noir 2024

Central Otago in the nether regions of the South Island of New Zealand has proved itself one of the world’s...
Red Hut Albarino Front Deep Etched NV HR

Red Hut Gisborne Albarino 2025

Kiwi Albarino is a style not commonly encountered, but this is a most enjoyable example from the Gisborne region, specifically...
Red Hut Pinot Gris Front Deep Etched NV HR ()

Red Hut Marlborough Pinot Gris 2025

Pinot Gris from the Awatere Valley sub-district of Marlborough in New Zealand, the fruit was destemmed before a cool fermentation...
Little Giant Hairy Nose Pinot Noir D NV S

Little Giant Hairy Nose Pinot Noir 2025

Wombats are the overall theme with these wines. This is an excellent value Pinot Noir from South Australian fruit. Crimson/cerise...
Little Giant Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir NV

Little Giant Pinot Noir 2025

Again with the wombats, little giant is a name given to them. Apparently. Also, the southern hairy nosed wombat is...
Little Giant Merlot AH Front NS NV

Little Giant Merlot 2025

Maturation for this Merlot, made from fruit from the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley, is in large format French and...
Little Giant Unearthed

Little Giant The Unearthed Barossa Shiraz 2023

A fine Barossa Shiraz, this is an opaque magenta hue. Plums, blackberries, aniseed, warm earth, florals, coffee grinds, licorice and...
Little Giant Adelaide Hills Chardonnay NV No Shadow D

Little Giant Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2025

Part of the squat bot range, these are becoming more than a curiosity. Adelaide Hills Chardonnay from a range of...
DallianceBVMShiraz BS

Dalliance Marananga Shiraz 2021

A cracking Barossa Shiraz from a sensational vintage, many consider the Marananga sub-region to be the very heart of the...
The Pursuit NV Jim Brand

Jim Brand The Pursuit Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

A wine reflecting the much missed Jim Brand’s pursuit of great Cabernet from the Coonawarra region and a very fine...
x Mt Bera AH AMPHITHEATRE Blaufrankish

Mt Bera Amphitheatre Blaufrankish 2024

An Austrian variety which we do not see a lot of in Australia, but it is known in Europe for...
MtB W&F Pinot Noir

Mt Bera Wild & Free Pinot Noir 2024

A thoroughly enjoyable Pinot Noir from the Adelaide Hills, from a good vintage. The colour is a pale crimson/garnet. We...
MMROXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Mezzacorona Meso di Mezzo Pinot Grigio Rosé 2024

It is well known that the Pinot Grigio/Gris grape can provide more colour than we normally see with traditional white...
TamarRidge NV SingleBlock PinotNoir mL NV ()

Tamar Ridge Single Block Rosevears Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024

The team have fashioned a stunning Pinot Noir from a single block in the Rosevears Vineyard, which is located by...
TamarRidge NV ResearchSeries PinotNoir mL ()

Tamar Ridge Research Series Pinot Noir 2022

Superb Pinot Noir from the team at Tamar Ridge, this is part of their research programme. The fruit comes from...
Stonehaven LVR Coonawarra CabSauv NV

Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A fine Cabernet from the Coonawarra region, hailing from that very special vintage of 2021. The vines are entering their...

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...
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...
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