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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.
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Paringa Shiraz 2025

From the warm and early vintage of 2025, the result is a most approachable style, although even this wine could...
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Paringa Shiraz 2024

The Hickinbotham family has been a famous name in Australian wine for the best part of a century. The name...
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3 Rings Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024

The fruit here came from the Estate’s own Biscay Road Vineyard in the Barossa Valley. Fermentation is in open top...
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3 Rings Barossa Valley GSM 2024

This increasingly popular Barossa Valley blend, the team’s GSM, is 40% Grenache, 40% Shiraz and the remaining 20%, Mataro. Good...
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Holm Oak Shiraz 2024

10% whole bunches were incorporated into the production of this cool climate Shiraz. Maturation was for ten months in oak,...
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Holm Oak Hot Shot Pinot Noir 2022

The team do lean to a greater use of whole bunches in the fermentation of this wine, however the handling...
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Holm Oak Fearless Pinot Noir 2025

This is the third release of this wine. The team use no new oak and no whole bunch fermentation in...
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Holm Oak Pinot Noir 2025

A range of clones are incorporated into this Pinot Noir. The grapes underwent destemming and then wild fermentation in small...
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Holm Oak The Wizard Chardonnay 2025

This is from a warmer vintage than we often see from Tasmania and the wine is perhaps a little fuller...
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Holm Oak Pinot Noir Chardonnay NV

Another example of the excellence of Tasmanian sparklers, this is a blend of 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Chardonnay. Whole...
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Fabal Vineyard Road Clare Riesling 2024

Sourced from a low yielding vineyard in the Clare Valley, the aim has been to preserve the freshness throughout the...
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Fabal Vineyard Road The Edge Block Shiraz 2022

Barossa Valley Shiraz, sourced from a block, not surprisingly located on the ‘edge’ of one of their premier vineyards. Maturation...
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Fabal Vineyard Road Moppa Springs Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Moppa Springs is located close to the town of Greenock in the Barossa Valley, and the team believe that their...
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Gudilly Single Vineyard Moscato 2026

Coming in at just 7% alcohol, not that much more than a strong beer, this is a style of wine...
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Craggy Range Aroha Pinot Noir 2024

From the Martinborough region in New Zealand, which makes some of the world’s best Pinot Noir, the fruit here hails...
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Craggy Range Les Beaux Cailloux Chardonnay 2024

Granted there is a price dip discrepancy between top Chardonnays like this and Sauvignon Blanc, but it seems so harsh...
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Craggy Range Sophia Merlot 2024

From the Gimblett Gravels sub-region in Hawkes Bay, Merlot (79%) is always dominant in this wine, supported by Cabernet Franc...
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Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah 2024

Right from the very beginning of the Craggy Range adventure, this wine has been my favourite of their range. I...
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Schild Estate Barossa Chardonnay 2026

While this is a very early release from the 2026 vintage, it is from a more normal vintage than that...
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Cape Barren Native Goose McLaren Vale Rosé 2026

The specific varieties used in this Rosé are not revealed, but that makes no difference in the end. The grapes...
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Olea Padthaway Prosecco NV

Prosecco from the Padthaway region, the team used only free run juice with fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Lemon/gold in...
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Devitt & Moore Sutherland Pinot Gris 2026

The fruit used here is from a range of regions throughout the Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully, Robe, Coonawarra and Padthaway. Fermentation...
Olea Pinot Grigio

Olea Padthaway Pinot Grigio 2026

Pinot Grigio which is sourced from three vineyards across the Padthaway region, fermentation is done by way of individual batches...
Reschke Bull Trader Cabernet Merlot NV

Reschke Bull Trader Cabernet Merlot 2021

Great to see that wines from the brilliant 2021 vintage are still available. The fruit comes from a vineyard planted...

Stories

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There is surely no wine region in this country which has more elite wineries than Margaret River. The advantage for...
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Penfolds Superblend

Every Australian winelover will surely be aware of just how much Penfolds love to release special wines, whether they have...
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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...
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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...
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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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