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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.
The Money Spider Roussanne U

D’Arenberg Money Spider Roussanne 2025

Bargain buying here. The only reason anyone would not have a bottle of this in their fridge on a regular...
The Olive Grove Chardonnay MV AH New PNG ()

D’Arenberg Olive Grove Chardonnay 2025

When it comes to Chardonnays available for under twenty bucks a bottle, this one must surely sit among the very...
Syrah ()

Ampersand Syrah 2024

At this stage, this is my pick from the Ampersand range. From the Frankland River region, the colour is an...
Sauvignon Blanc

Ampersand Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Part of an exciting new array of wines from the Pemberton region of Western Australia, this is lemon straw in...
Chardonnay ()

Ampersand Chardonnay 2024

A cracking Chardonnay from the Pemberton region, the colour here is a straw gold. The nose reveals attractive stone fruit...
Pinot Noir

Ampersand Pinot Noir 2024

The evolution of quality Pinot Noir from the West has been one of the success stories of Australian wine over...
jj hahn western ridge shiraz nv hr

JJ Hahn Western Ridge Shiraz 2023

The fruit here is sourced from the team’s Western Ridge vineyards, including Greenock, Stone Well, Marananga and Seppeltsfield. They also...
stonehouse bv reserve shiraz nv hr

Stonehouse Reserve Shiraz 2023

The fruit here is sourced mostly from the team’s Western Ridge vineyards, including Stone Well, Seppeltsfield, Marananga and Greenock, as...
stonehouse bv shiraz nv hr

Stonehouse Old Vine Shiraz 2023

This is a new wine from the team. They use the same basis for sourcing grapes as with the Hamlets...
CWCo BV Cabernet Sauvignon

Curator Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

The fruit here comes from the team’s home block in Marananga. They incorporate a dollop of Petit Verdot, around 5%....
cwc hamlets shiraz nv

Curator Wine Company Hamlets Shiraz 2024

From this vintage, the team decided to reassess vineyards for this wine, and now source fruit from vineyards in the...
lpv old vine grenache nv

Lone Palm Vineyard Grenache 2024

Superb old vine Grenache from the Barossa, specifically a 80-year-old vineyard at Nuriootpa. Older French oak is used for maturation,...
Gudilly Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay Bottleshot (March ) ()

Gudilly Single Vineyard Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay NV

A single vineyard, Pinot Noir dominant sparkler, which is good value and easy drinking. The split is 89% Pinot Noir...
SE Hatchling NV

Schubert The Hatchling’ BV Shiraz 2022

The fruit used here is sourced partly from the Estate’s Roennfeldt Vineyard and also from vineyards in the Marananga sub-region...
SE Lone Goose NV

Schubert The Lone Goose Shiraz Viognier 2022

The continued Goose theme which runs through the wines from this Estate suggests that they have enjoyed a far kinder...
SE Gosling NV

Schubert The Gosling Shiraz 2022

From Block 4 of the Estate’s Roennfeldt Road Vineyard, the site tends to yield fewer bunches though slightly larger berries...
SE Gander NV

Schubert The Gander Reserve Shiraz 2022

The Estate describes this as their “grande marque Barossa Valley Shiraz”, and it certainly is a cracking wine. The fruit...
Golden Goose NV ()

Schubert The Golden Goose Late Harvest Viognier 2021

As well as providing a small component of the ‘Lone Goose’, the team make this sweeter style of Viognier from...
NV ()

Schubert Goose Yard Block Shiraz 2021

The team consider this to be their flagship wine, and it is sourced entirely from their Roennfeldt Road Vineyard. Viticulture...
MagareyLane Glenroy ShirazNV copy

Magarey Lane Glenroy Shiraz 2019

Under Diam, this is a serious Shiraz from the Coonawarra region. Deep maroon in colour, there are lashings of chocolate...
MagareyLane LC Shiraz copy

Magarey Lane LC Shiraz 2024

From a single vineyard in the Limestone Coast region, there is lots to like here. A deep blood red hue...
Limited Vineyard Release Coonawarra Cabernet copy

Stonehaven LVR Coonawarra Cab Sauv 2021

Amazing to think we are still seeing wines from the stellar 2021 vintage and even more surprising to see them...
Stepping Stone Shiraz copy

Stonehaven Stepping Stone Shiraz 2024

Shiraz from the Limestone Coast, this has a maroon core with a ruby rim. The aromas weave through bright plums,...
Schoolhouse Block A Shiraz CW NV copy

Schoolhouse Block A2 Shiraz 2022

Quite an exciting Coonawarra Shiraz, this is open in structure and most approachable with attractive fruit flavours. The colour is...

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...
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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...
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