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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.
Excalibur

Zonte’s Footsteps Excalibur Sauvignon Blanc Adelaide Hills 2025

A very pale lemon hue, this is clean and fresh and very aromatic, with the perfumes filling the room upon...
Z Force

Zonte’s Footsteps Z-Force McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021

As a very young kid, I have a vague recollection of an early TV show called Spyforce with some legendary...
Apple Betty Chardonnay

Zonte’s Footsteps Apple Betty Chardonnay 2024

The name of this wine is linked to that rich and comforting dish, apple betty, which is also apparently known...
Tyrrell's Vat Semillon Bottle Shot xpx

Tyrrells Vat 1 Semillon 2019

One of this country’s iconic wines, this Hunter Semillon is always a thrilling offering. From the team’s oldest Semillon blocks,...
Tyrrell's Vat Chardonnay Bottle Shot xpx

Tyrrells Vat 47 Chardonnay 2023

An exceptional Vat 47, the fruit coming entirely from the Short Flat vineyard, which was planted by Murray Tyrrell in...
Vat Shiraz xpx

Tyrrells Vat 9 Shiraz 2023

If I have seen a better Vat 9 than this release, I’m not sure I can recall it. This is...
Tyrrell's Vat Chardonnay Semillon Bottle Shot xpx

Tyrrells Vat 63 Chardonnay/Semillon 2023

A family favourite (the Tyrrell family, that is, although no doubt many others as well), the blend is 55% Chardonnay...
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Tyrrells Vat 8 Shiraz Cabernet 2023

A Hunter/McLaren Vale version of the great Aussie red blend, the Shiraz is from the estate vineyard called Ashmans, while...
Precious Little Nero D Avola NV

Precious Little Nero d’Avola 2024

From a vineyard located in what many consider to be the very heart of the Barossa Valley, the Marananga sub-region,...
precious

Precious Little Grüner Veltliner 2025

Adelaide Hills Grüner from a vineyard which sits between Lobethal and Charleston, the grapes were whole bunch pressed with a...
Prescious Little WineImages

Precious Little Pinot Noir 2024

Pinot Noir from an excellent vintage in the Adelaide hills, the colour is a vibrant crimson/garnet. This is a soft...
Prescious Little WineImages

Precious Little Old Vine Grenache 2024

A great deal to like here. Old vine Grenache from this region, and coming from a fine vintage as well,...
BW Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz NV

Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz 2023

There has been a great deal of hype about this latest release of the Graveyard Shiraz, not surprisingly, and it...
The Bard Cabernet ()

Hollick The Bard Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra 2022

When two vintages of the same wine are available at the same time – the 2022 and the 2023, in...
The Bard Cabernet ()

Hollick The Bard Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra 2023

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon here. The colour is a deep blood red. An alluring and even exuberant nose with notes of...
The Bard Chardonnay ()

Hollick The Bard Coonawarra Chardonnay 2024

The team at Hollick have created the Bard range of wines to celebrate the work of John Shaw Nielsen, who...
Stock Route Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon

Hollick Stock Route Shiraz Cabernet 2021

It might sound like a broken record, but do not miss any opportunity to stock your cellar with good wines...
Swinney Grenache

Swinney Farvie Grenache 2023

This is the flagship Grenache for the Estate. From their Wilson’s Pool Vineyard, there are 30% whole bunches included in...
Cloudbreak Sauvignon Blanc

Cloudbreak Nouveau Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2024

From Australia’s most highly regarded region for this variety, this is fresh, clean, lingering, juicy and very drinkable. The colour...
Near & Far Shiraz lowres

Welland Near & Far South Australian Shiraz 2024

This South Aussie Shiraz, sourced from vineyards across that State, might be priced like your average quaffer, but it certainly...
Near & Far Chardonnay lowres

Welland Near & Far South Australian Chardonnay 2024

As the name suggests, the vineyards which provide the fruit for this excellent value and thoroughly enjoyable Chardy, come from...
Fiano ()

Haselgrove McLaren Vale Fiano 2025

A single vineyard wine from the Tatachilla sub-region in the south of McLaren Vale with fermentation in a mix of...
Bella Vigna Reserve Parcel Shiraz

HaselGrove Bella Vigna McLaren Vale Reserve Parcel Shiraz 2022

A year and a half maturing in a mix of new and older French oak for this barrel selection, from...
Wildlight Shiraz

Altus Rise Wildlight Shiraz 2024

Excellent value Margaret River Shiraz, the wine is a vibrant dark purple hue. The nose reveals notes of chocolate, plums,...

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...
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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...

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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