Avatar photo

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.
Pepper Tree Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra

Pepper Tree Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A most appealing Coonawarra Cabernet from a thrilling vintage. Blood red in colour, there are dense fruit notes here. We...
TamarRidgeGrandAssemblage PinotNoir ml FOP

Tamar Ridge Grand Assemblage Pinot Noir 2022

A pale crimson colour for this Tassie Pinot, the wine is beautifully fragrant and a classically appealing Pinot. There are...
Woodvale Spring Gardens Shiraz

Woodvale Spring Gardens Shiraz 2022

Sourced from a pair of Clare Valley vineyards – one located in the Armagh sub-region and the other in the...
Woodvale Orchard Road Cabernet Sauvignon

Woodvale Orchard Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The fruit here has been sourced from three discrete sites across the Clare Valley, and after fermentation it was basket...
Woodvale Sharegarden Cabernet Sauvignon

Woodvale Sharegarden Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

This fine Clare Valley Cab Sauv has a dark cherry hue. The nose gives us spices, dried herbs, beefstock notes,...
Woodvale Sharegarden Shiraz

Woodvale Sharegarden Shiraz 2020

The wine is sourced from various vineyards which are kept separate until the final blending, by which time they have...
Aldersey Shiraz

Ivyburn Aldersey Shiraz 2021

The vines used here grow in the Willunga sub-region of McLaren Vale. The colour here is a mix of blue/black/purple...
ThePioneer Shiraz

Ivyburn The Pioneer Shiraz 2021

From vines in the Blewett Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale, this is under diam. A near black colour here, this...
FirstMinister Shiraz

Ivyburn First Minister McLaren Vale Shiraz 2022

From a really exciting vintage for the McLaren Vale region, the colour here is a dark mauve. The first impression...
CMSACC NV Website Bottle Shot

Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico 2022

The 2022 vintage has surprised a few, overcoming a much warmer year to offer some really enjoyable wines. The wines...
CMSAGS Website Bottle Shot

Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2020

Another superb Chianti from the exciting 2020 vintage, this is a vibrant dark red in colour, with a hint of...
CMSAPO Website Bottle Shot

Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna Poggiarso 2020

2020 is a cracking year for Chianti and this is a terrific example of what one can expect from the...
ULRSTD NV Website Bottle Shot

Ulrich Langguth 12 Degrees Gourmet Trocken Riesling 2023

A touch of honeycomb is in evidence here, along with some appealing citrus notes in this attractive dry German Riesling....
CMSARI NV Website Bottle Shot

Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico Riserva 2021

The local wineries are known for including a dollop (around 5%) of Merlot with their Sangiovese here in Chianti, and...
BLRSTR NV Website Bottle Shot

Becker Landgraf Trocken Riesling 2022

German Riesling done in a drier style, which sets it up nicely for a range of more delicate dishes, fresh...
DDCHXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Deep Down Marlborough Chardonnay 2023

Deep straw colour, there are lovely rich and ripe notes on the nose, with hints of peaches, mandarins, stone fruits,...
DDSBXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Deep Down Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023

A single vineyard wine, organic, and with wild fermentation, around one-third in old puncheons, the colour here is a gleaming...
DDWBXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Deep Down Marlborough Blanc 2023

This is a wine which focuses on the Marlborough region, rather than on any single variety, which in this region...
KKPNXX Website Bottle Shot

Kuru Kuru Pinot Noir 2019

The name gives respect to senior members of the local Mãori. From Central Otago, the colour here is a red...
CFPGRI NV Website Bottle Shot

Castel Firman Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio Riserva 2022

Sourced from vineyards at the base of the Italian Alps in the Trentino DOC, this is prime territory for fine...
Oxford Landing Regenerate Shiraz

Oxford Landing Regenerate Shiraz 2023

Crimson purple in colour, this Riverland Shiraz is the pick of the range for me. Attractive aromatics, we have plums,...
Oxford Landing Regenerate Pinot Grigio

Oxford Landing Regenerate Pinot Grigio 2024

After a wild fermentation, this Riverland Pinot Grigio was left on lees and stirred regularly for three months. A very...
msv artisan cabernet sauvignon

Murray Street Vineyards Artisan Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Warm climate Cabernet from a cracking vintage here, 93% of the fruit hails from the Greenock Estate with the remainder...
msv artisan shiraz

Murray Street Vineyards Artisan Shiraz 2021

The fruit here exhibits sub-regional characters from Gomersal and Greenock, with 85% of the fruit from the latter. There is...

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...
winepilot