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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.
Yalumba The Tri Centenary Grenache

Yalumba The Tri-Centenary Grenache 2024

This one is also well known for the extraordinary length of post ferment maceration.  One of the early examples of...
FarvieSyrah

Swinney Farvie Syrah 2024

Syrah, or Shiraz, from the Frankland River region has certainly established itself has one of the most exciting styles of...
FarvieMourvedre

Swinney Farvie Mourvèdre 2024

This is not simply one of the best examples of Mourvèdre from Australia, it’s one of the best in the...
FarvieGrenache

Swinney Farvie Grenache 2024

Wine critics are completely unbiased and have absolutely no favourites at all. First line of the wine writers’ creed. Unfortunately,...
Petaluma White Label Chardonnay

Petaluma Chardonnay White Label 2025

Petaluma has gone through some fairly massive changes since the days when Brian Croser and his team ran the place...
threerings

3 Rings Barossa Valley Shiraz 2023

From the Biscay Road Vineyard in the Barossa Valley, maturation is in a mix of new and older American oak....
paringa shiraz nv front

Paringa Shiraz 2023

An excellent value Shiraz from the Murray/Darling River region, maturation is for around a year and a half in French...
Ceoltoiri

Clonakilla Ceoltóiri 2024

Ceoltóiri is Irish for musicians, because apparently all the pronounceable words were already taken. More seriously, music has played a...
Hilltops

Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2024

The fruit for this gem comes from four vineyards in the Hilltops region of New South Wales. After destemming and...
BelongingToTheHillsShiraz NV

Pertaringa Belonging to the Hills McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023

Pertaringa actually means ‘belonging to the hills’ in the local dialect. An opaque maroon colour, the nose gives us notes...
First Ridge Vermentino NV

First Ridge Vermentino 2025

Another extremely successful wine when it comes to the show circuit, the colour here is a very pale straw. On...
First Ridge Fiano NV

First Ridge Fiano 2025

The Mudgee region is starting to prove itself as an excellent site for alternative varieties, especially those from Italy. The...
Renzaglia Wambuul Chd web

Renzaglia Wambuul Chardonnay 2024

From the Wambuul Valley in New South Wales, wines which are given the Wambuul label are made from blending the...
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...

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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