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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.
Head The Blonde

Head The Blonde Shiraz 2023

To form part of the components used for the Blonde, the grapes must again be from overperforming vineyards and they...
Head Roja Temp

Head Roja Tempranillo Grenache 2023

A wine which Alex sees as getting a head start on climate change, bringing in top Mediterranean varieties, although here,...
Head Red Gren

Head Red Grenache 2023

The fruit here comes from four old vineyards across the Barossa. The wine is designed for immediate gratification. The vineyards,...
Head Riesling

Head Riesling 2024

The fruit here is sourced from the Trial Hill Vineyard near Pewsey Vale in the Eden Valley, at the relatively...
Head Les Blancs

Head Les Blancs Barossa and Eden Valley 2024

Fascinating story behind this wine, though I suspect that more information is still to emerge. In 2023, Alex combined a...
Head Heart Home

Head Heart & Home Shiraz 2022

The old Barossa reds were not the blockbuster monsters which are so popular today but rather, sought out a path...
MadameMBlanc&BlancBottle

Hewitson Madame M Blanc & Blanc 2024

Bottled in the new lighter containers – expect to see many more of these in coming years. The aim of...
StrawberryHillShirazBottle

Hewitson Strawberry Hill Shiraz 2023

This wine only appears in the best vintages. It is named after an old strawberry patch which grows next to...
MadHatterBottle

Hewitson The Mad Hatter Shiraz 2023

Forget visions of Alice disappearing down rabbit holes, this is labelled after Dean’s nickname. A blend of the best of...
NedHenrysShirazBottle

Hewitson Ned & Henry’s Shiraz 2023

The aim here is to produce a full-flavoured Barossa Shiraz, which is a joy to drink when approached young but...
BelleVilleRoseBottle

Hewitson Belle Ville Rosé 2024

Dean Hewitson has named this wine after the house he and his young family shared several decades ago when he...
Neldner Road Neldner Road Shiraz

Neldner Road Shiraz 2021

Dave Powell’s new label can be expected to provide some stellar wines, and no one will be disappointed with this...
Majella Musician () () () () () () ()

Majella The Musician Cabernet Shiraz 2022

Long been a personal favourite as a wine which drinks beautifully, ages well, shows how good the great Aussie red...
Amadio Black Label Shiraz screw

Amadio Shiraz 2022

Terrific value here with a Shiraz sourced from some famous regions, such as the Barossa Valley, Langhorne Creek and McLaren...
The Heir ()

Aramis Museum Release The Heir Shiraz 2014

Those wanting to experience a mature Aussie red, look no further. This already has more than a decade under its...
Morpheus

Aramis Morpheus Shiraz Viognier 2018

2018 is a wonderful vintage and those who have it in their cellars have been fortunate. Those who don’t have...
Nemesis

Aramis Nemesis Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

A very attractive Cabernet from McLaren Vale, from this special vintage. Under diam, just 1,236 (very heavy) bottles were made....
Schoolhouse Headmaster Sauvignon Blanc

Schoolhouse Headmaster Sauvignon Blanc 2025

A serious Sauvignon Blanc here, from the red (terra rossa) soils of Coonawarra. The colour here is a near gin...
Cape Barren Old Vine Grenache McLaren Vale

Cape Barren Old Vine McLaren Vale Grenache 2024

Old vine Grenache from regions like McLaren Vale continue to enthral wine lovers. Easy to see why with gems like...
Stonehaven Stepping Stone Sauvignon Blanc

Stonehaven Stepping Stone Sauvignon Blanc 2025

This is a seriously good value Savvy, from the Limestone Coast, specifically the three regions of Mundulla, Padthaway and Coonawarra....
Schild Narrow Road Shiraz Cabernet Barossa Valley

Schild Narrow Road Shiraz Cabernet 2022

The squat bottle seems to be becoming more and more popular and we are seeing some seriously good wines in...
Bone Dry Sauvignon Blanc

Bone Dry Sauvignon Blanc 2025

It almost seemed like an April Fools Day joke but no, the first wines from 2025 are already crossing the...
Icon Q Chardonnay

Tomich Adelaide Hills Icons Woodside Q96 Chardonnay 2019

An Adelaide Hills Chardonnay which already has quite a few years under its belt, adding to the development and complexity...
V Hi

Hart of the Barossa Ye Brave Shiraz 2021

This is the team’s prestige Shiraz from the Barossa, coming from a truly stunning vintage, and the wine more than...

Stories

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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...

Duval on Grenache

The name, Duval, is and always will be inextricably linked with Grange. John Duval was chief winemaker at Penfold’s from...
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