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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.
Seppeltsfield Watervale Riesling

Seppeltsfield Watervale Single Vineyard Riesling 2024

The fruit for this wine was harvested from the Carlsfield vineyard, just to the east of the Watervale township. with...
Pomona Riesling()

Crabtree Pomona Riesling Watervale 2024

From the Watervale sub-region of the Clare Valley, this is a thrilling Riesling from a superb vintage. Pale straw in...
RC Riesling NV

Crabtree RC Riesling 2024

The flagship Riesling from this Clare Valley team, just 175 dozen made, hailing from the Watervale sub-region. Made only in...
Estate Riesling NV

Crabtree Estate Riesling Watervale 2024

Sourced from estate vines aged between 22 and 46 years, from the Watervale sub-region in the Clare Valley, this is...
Bec Hardy Lot Syrah

Bec Hardy Syrah 2023

Can’t you just see all the old timers in McLaren Vale holding up the bar at their local, weeping into...
Bec Hardy Lot Tempranillo

Bec Hardy Tempranillo 2024

Great to see this Spanish star variety doing so well in a number of regions in Australia and it certainly...
Bec Hardy Undercover Shiraz

Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz McLaren Vale 2023

In years past, some of our most famous regions have had their wines “supplemented” by contributions from other wine-growing districts,...
Bec Hardy Lot Cabernet Sauvignon

Bec Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

A warm climate Cabernet which succeeds in delivering serious flavour. After open batch fermentation for eight days on skins, the...
Bec Hardy Rifle & Hunt Cabernet Sauvignon

Pertaringa Rifle & Hunt McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Under cork, this is a beautifully concentrated style of a warmer region Cab. An alluring and impressive nose with chocolate,...
Bec Hardy Over the Top Shiraz

Pertaringa Over the Top McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023

The name refers to the team’s approach to this wine – to go ‘over the top’ in every way when...
Bec Hardy Lakeside Moscato

Pertaringa Lakeside Moscato 2023

At just 6.5% alcohol, this is the very definition of moreish. The wine is the palest yellow green and offers...
Pertaringa Belonging to the hills MV Shiraz

Pertaringa Belonging to the Hills McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022

A fine McLaren Vale Shiraz from an excellent vintage, this is a deep bold red in colour. There is some...
St Hallett Sacred Ground Shiraz

St Hallett Sacred Ground Shiraz 2022

Sacred ground? Well, what better name can you think of for the Barossa Valley? And this is a classic and...
MOSS WOOD Merlot White Background

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Merlot 2022

I suspect this wine holds a Moss Wood record for the shortest vintage weather report they have ever issued –...
Pinot Noir White Background

Moss Wood Pinot Noir 2022

20% of the fruit went into fermentation as whole bunches, adding in the search for texture and complexity. Maturation was...
MOSS WOOD Cabernet Sauvignon White Background

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Cabernet 2022

A wine which is near completely Cabernet Sauvignon here, with 90% of the blend that variety, the remaining 10% is...
Chardonnay White Background

Moss Wood Chardonnay 2023

Amazing to think that Moss Wood’s oldest Chardonnay vines are now 48 years of age. Fermentation for this cracking Chardonnay...
Semillon White Background

Moss Wood Semillon 2024

This vintage reminded the family of 1994/1995, though one suspects much has changed in the meantime. The fruit was whole...
Amys White Background

Moss Wood Amy’s 2023

Very much Cabernet Sauvignon dominant (83%), the wine also enjoys contributions from Merlot (5%), Malbec (6%) and Petit Verdot (6%)....
FASWHP NV Website Bottle Shot

Feudo Arancio Hekata Passito 2020

This delightful sweetie is a blend of Chardonnay, Viognier and Inzolia. Named as a tribute to Hekate, a Greek goddess,...
MMPGXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Maso di Mezzo Pinot Grigio 2023

From the spiritual home of fine Pinot Grigio, Italy, this is a deep yellow but the grape does naturally have...
MONGSL NEW NV Website Bottle shot

Mottura Negroamaro Salento IGT 2023

This is a really good value Italian red. Dark garnet in colour, there are attractive lifted aromas here and the...
VEPGXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Mezzacorona Ventessa Pinot Grigio 2023

A lower alcohol version here, just 9%, this is also lower in calories (or kilojoules) – 90 calories per five...
HERSGS NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Great Southern Riesling 2024

The team here quite relentlessly release cracking Riesling which offers superb value. Here we go again (this is a good...

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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