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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.
Reschke R Series Shiraz NV

Reschke R-Series Shiraz 2022

From a very fine vintage for the Limestone Coast region, this is a generous, well-structured and approachable Shiraz which offers...
Ulithorne Immortelle Shz NV

Ulithorne Immortelle Shiraz 2022

2022 was an excellent vintage for the McLaren Vale region – take advantage. This is a cracker. An opaque maroon,...
First Cut Shiraz NV

Haselgrove First Cut Shiraz 2021

The First Cut range is designed to provide approachable and softer wines for enjoying with food. From a range of...
First Cut Cab Sauvignon NV ()

Haselgrove First Cut Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

20% new French oak, the remainder older French, is used in the maturation of this fine McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon,...
Watervale

O’Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2025

Yet another superb Watervale Riesling from a pair of specialists (they are pretty good at other wines, as well). Treatment...
PHR

O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling 2025

Coming from vines planted back in the 1970s, the OLW Polish Hill River Riesling tends to be the formal, and...
GPL

Majella Coonawarra GPL68 2016

The name is a tribute to George Patrick Lynn who ‘allowed’ his sons, Brian and Anthony, to plant vineyards in...
composer

Majella Coonawarra The Composer Cabernet 2022

These guys are such reliable producers, with a number of their wines representing wonderful value. On that score, hard to...
malleea

Majella Coonawarra The Malleea 2018

Always good to see wines with time in the cellar under their belt, especially when they come from such a...
shiraz

Majella Coonawarra Shiraz 2020

A dark blood red hue, we are straight into some appealing chocolatey aromas. The wine exhibits well handled oak with...
Rose small file

Majella Coonawarra Rosé 2025

The colour here is pale, but still a rather vibrant neon pink. The nose offers notes of strawberries and florals,...
chardonnay

Majella Coonawarra Chardonnay 2024

Pale straw in colour, this is rather a refined style of Chardy. We have notes of dried herbs, citrus, peach...
riesling

Majella Coonawarra Riesling 2025

It is not that many years ago that Riesling was the most widely planted variety in the Coonawarra region. More...
Sp Sz

Majella Coonawarra Sparkling Shiraz 2022

Like all these wines, this is a love it or hate it style, although for the life of me, I...
Leconfield Cabernet Sauvignon trans ()

Leconfield Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Notwithstanding the addition of various other Cabs to the portfolio, Leconfield see this as their flagship – always have. No...
Leconfield Reserve Cabernets ()

Leconfield Coonawarra Reserve Cabernets 2022

From an excellent Coonawarra vintage, this is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Maturation is in French...
Duck Duck Bull Wee Bully Wratonbully

Duck Duck Bull Wee Bully Wrattonbully 2021

From the Wrattonbully region, this is a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The colour is a deep...
Duck Duck Bull Shiraz Wratonbully ()

Duck Duck Bull Shiraz Wrattonbully 2022

Lots to like with this brightly flavoured Shiraz from the Wrattonbully region. The colour is a vibrant maroon. The nose...
Two Hands Wines Twelftree Vinegrove Road Grenache Bottle Shot NV

Twelftree Grenache Vinegrove Road Greenock 2021

The wine saw the use of 15% whole bunches with fermentation and nine and/or ten months maturation in concrete vats...
Two Hands Wines Twelftree Adams Road Grenache Bottle Shot NV

Twelftree Grenache Adams Road Blewett Springs 2022

From the famed Blewett Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale, which enjoyed a stellar season in 2022, this is from 56-year-old...
Two Hands Wines Twelftree Schuller Road Grenache Bottle Shot NV

Twelftree Grenache Schuller Road Blewett Springs 2022

For me, this might just be the pick of the latest releases from this Grenache specialist. From 85-year-old vines in...
Leasingham Classic Clare Riesling

Leasingham Classic Clare Watervale Riesling 2017

A famous name in the Clare region, this offers a straw/gold hue with a nose just dripping with notes of...
Leasingham Classic Clare Riesling

Leasingham Classic Clare Watervale Riesling 2016

Another mature Riesling, still with a decade or two ahead of it, this hails from yet another good vintage for...
pv pyrenees cabernet

Pyren Vineyards Cabernet 2022

From the Pyrenees region, a fine source of cooler climate reds, this is impressive stuff. Deep maroon in colour, the...

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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