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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.
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...
pv cabernet

Pyren Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Elegance personified for this cooler climate Cabernet from the Pyrenees. A deep red/garnet hue, there are bold and richly defined...
pv syrah

Pyren Vineyard Reserve Syrah 2023

Anyone looking for an alternative to our gorgeous bold-as-brass Shiraz from warmer climes, should look no further. From the cooler...
Shiraz

Pyren Vineyard Pentagon Shiraz 2017

A cooler climate style of Shiraz, the colour here is a dark garnet. The nose is from the savoury end...
NEW JACK WEST SHIRAZ

Lienert Vineyards Jack West BV Single Origin Shiraz 2022

Deep red in hue, it is red fruits which are to the fore here. Cranberries, cherries, red apples, raspberries and...
TDP SHIRAZ NEW LOW

Lienert Vineyards Tierra del Puerco ‘Field Marshall the Shiraz’ 2022

A curious name with a rather tenuous link to the wine – hardly the first wine to which we can...
Grazing Collection Rose

Alkoomi Rosé 2025

A most attractive Rosé for enjoying over the next couple of years, this is the palest of pinks – just...
Grazing Collection Shiraz

Alkoomi Shiraz 2023

A deep garnet/red hue, the nose offers spicy notes with plums, chocolate, aniseed, black cherries, coffee grinds and subtle hints...
Alkoomi Collection Riesling

Alkoomi Frankland River Riesling 2025

Another example of just how impressive the Rieslings from Frankland River are. The colour here is a very weak lemon....
Alkoomi Collection Malbec

Alkoomi Malbec 2023

Frankland River is proving an excellent location for a range of unexpected varieties and good, solo Malbec is a fine...

Stories

PEN NV SpeRel CabShiraz SouthAus Superblend B Duo Cork

Penfolds Superblend

Every Australian winelover will surely be aware of just how much Penfolds love to release special wines, whether they have...
PEN La Chapelle Grange winemakers barrels

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...
AMW Collection

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...
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...
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