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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.
ARTISAN MV SHIRAZ

Allegiance The Artisan McLaren Vale Shiraz 2024

From a vineyard in the McLaren Flat subregion of McLaren Vale, the fruit here was destemmed prior to fermentation and...
COX TUMBARUMBA CHARD

Cox Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2025

Tumbarumba Chardonnay from a single vineyard located a lofty 530 metres above sea level. Fermentation was in French oak, 15%...
Parched Crow Wines Chardonnay

Parched Crow Chardonnay 2023

Hunter Valley Chardonnay is one of those styles that never seems to make sense, until you actually drink it. Then...
Parched Crow Wines“Early Dawn” Semillon

Parched Crow Early Dawn Semillon 2025

Hunter Valley Semillon from the Early Dawn Vineyard at Cessnock, which was planted by Henry Joseph Bouffier back in 1859....
Parched Crow Wines “McDonalds Flat” Bicentenary Semillon

Parched Crow McDonald’s Flat Bi-Centenary Semillon 2025

MacDonald’s Flat is a crucial part of the vineyards of Pokolbin. The original Deed of Grant was acquired by John...
Cabernet Sauvignon

Watkins Cabernet Sauvignon Langhorne Creek 2021

Excellent value Cabernet from one of our most reliable regions, Langhorne Creek. From a superb vintage, 10% of Merlot has...
Glamper Low Alcohol Semillon low res

Byrne Vineyards Glamper Semillon 2024

The aim here is to provide wines of good flavour which are lighter than normal in alcohol levels, ensuring that...
Cape Mentelle Marmaduke Shiraz NV

Cape Mentelle Marmaduke Shiraz 2023

From the wonderful 2023 vintage in Margaret River, the colour is a rather muddled red/purple at this early stage. The...
Cape Mentelle Sixteen Hectares Chardonnay NV

Cape Mentelle Sixteen Hectare Chardonnay 2024

A really impressive Margaret River Chardonnay, the colour of the wine is a lemon/yellow. On the nose, we have cashews...
M Burton Shiraz II

M. Burton Shiraz II NV

We don’t see many multi-vintage reds, especially at this price level, but this terrific wine from the Canberra region might...
SWC BlancDeBlancs NV

Slow Wine Co Blanc de Blancs 2021

And now for something completely different. Sparkling wine from the orange region in NSW. A blanc de blancs – 100%...
SWC BlancDeNoir NV

Slow Wine Co Blanc de Noirs 2021

Also from the Bantry Grove Vineyard, the mirror image of its sibling, a Blanc de Noir – 100% Pinot Noir....
Cooks Lot Iconique Barrique Pinot Noir

Cook’s Lot Iconique Barrique Pinot Noir 2019

Again, great to see wines with considerable age under their belt before release. The fruit here was cold soaked for...
Cooks Lot Iconique Barrique Chardonnay

Cook’s Lot Iconique Barrique Chardonnay 2019

From the Orange region in New South Wales, the aim here is surely to produce a Chardonnay of complexity. Barrel...
Austin's Chardonnay

Austins Chardonnay 2024

The fruit here comes from the Moorabool Valley at Geelong. The wine is the result of a selection from the...
Ft Prosecco NV

6ft6 King Valley Prosecco NV

King Valley is proving itself the top Aussie region for the Prosecco grape and this is another fine example. A...
Four Chambers Cabernet

Thompson Estate Four Chambers Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

2023 is proving to be a superb year for Cabernet Sauvignon in the Margaret River region, and this is no...
Thompson Estate Chardonnay

Thompson Estate Margaret River Chardonnay 2024

It is early days for this very fine Margaret River Chardonnay, which surely has more improvement in it. The fermentation...
Thompson Estate Four Chambers SB

Thompson Estate Four Chambers Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Margaret River Savvy for drinking over the next couple of years, this is pale lemon in colour. The nose is...
Zero Sparkling Pinot Chard

Thompson Estate Sparkling Zero Dosage Pinot Noir Chardonnay Margaret River 2019

West Aussie sparkling looking good. A Chardonnay Pinot Noir blend from Margaret River, the wine sees no dosage. Personally, I...
LOTTouriga

Land of Tomorrow McLaren Vale Touriga 2023

Touriga is a major contributor to the great vintage ports from the Douro Valley in Portugal, not to mention many...
LOTPinotNoir

Land of Tomorrow Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2024

A most alluring style of Pinot Noir from an excellent vintage for the Adelaide Hills, the wine saw maturation for...
LOTChard

Land of Tomorrow Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2024

Barrel fermentation here for this compelling Chardonnay made from Adelaide Hills fruit. 100% French oak in use, with maturation for...
LOTWchard

Land of Tomorrow Wrattonbully Chardonnay 2024

Chardonnay from Wrattonbully which is unoaked, this is certain to provide fresh and delicious drinking over summer and beyond. The...

Stories

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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...
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...
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