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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.
The Dead Arm Shiraz

D’Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz Museum Release 2015

A great opportunity to enjoy an aged release of a topnotch McLaren Vale Shiraz, at a price that many current...
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D’Arenberg The Mind Palace Sangiovese 2022

The one thing that can be relied on from d’Arenberg is the extraordinary array of fabulous names that adorn their...
The Ironstone Pressings Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre

D’Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre 2019

The famous Rhône blend done McLaren Vale style. Deep magenta in colour, there is a dusty earth note immediately apparent,...
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D’Arenberg The Custodian Grenache 2021

Grenache continues to thrill and when it hails from an ideal region and a superb vintage, not to mention makers...
d’Arry’s Original Grenache Shiraz New PNG

D’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original Shiraz Grenache 2021

Surely one of Australia’s most recognisable wines, the team use five tonne headed down open fermenters in order to look...
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Sieger Estate ERBE E3 Shiraz 2021

We are told that ‘ERBE’ means heritage and the team see this wine as reflecting the heritage of their vineyards....
HECMXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Great Southern Cabernet Merlot 2021

Great value buying here, for a fine Cabernet Merlot from the Great Southern. This blend spent sixteen months in French...
Twinwoods SV Shiraz()

Twinwoods Shiraz 2017

From a site in the Cowaramup sub-region of Margaret River, a vineyard which focuses on Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, the...
Twinwoods SV Cabernet()

Twinwoods Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

 A Margaret River Cabernet with seven years ageing already under its belt, for a near giveaway price – what is...
HFPMXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Henty Farm Pinot Meunier 2023

This is a most fascinating red. Meunier is famous as the third grape of the Champagne trilogy and rarely seen...
SWMAWC NV Website Bottle Shot

Silkwood Estate The Walcott Pemberton Malbec 2019

A solo Malbec, not that common here, from Pemberton. A red garnet hue, there are herbal notes and animal skins,...
HECSXX NV Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Great Southern Cabernet Shiraz 2019

The great Aussie red blend, this one is from the Great Southern region in the West. It spent eighteen months...
SWRSWC NV Website Bottle Shot

Silkwood Estate The Walcott Pemberton Riesling 2021

A fine Riesling from the Pemberton region in Western Australia, the colour here is a golden straw. It offers a...
HFSHMA NV Website Bottle Shot

Henty Farm Malakoff Vineyard Shiraz 2023

First release of their new wine, sourced from the Malakoff Vineyard at Henty (this vineyard has previously provided fruit for...
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Claymore Joshua Tree Riesling 2024

A brilliant Watervale Riesling, this is Clare at its finest. That cracking Clare Riesling nose is on show with limes,...
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Claymore Blackbird Sangiovese 2023

A fine local Sangiovese from the Clare Valley, with entirely new packaging, this is a delicious drink which is also...
Windowrie Pig In The House Sauvingon Blanc

Windowrie Central Ranges Pig in the House Central Ranges Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Savvy from the Central Ranges, made in an organic style. The colour is near transparent, while the nose exhibits notes...
NRV Maritime Chardonnay

Norfolk Rise Vineyard Where the Wind Blows Chardonnay 2023

From the Mt Benson region, the grapes are pressed directly into tanks and then removed from the lees before fermentation...
Norfold Rise Merlot

Norfolk Rise Vineyard Merlot 2022

The fruit here came from four discrete blocks situated at the vineyard at Mt Benson. Each block was fermented individually....
Norfold Rise Make Waves Syrah No Vintage

Norfolk Rise Vineyard Make Waves Syrah 2022

The team have opted for the Syrah designation, rather than Shiraz, as they believe the wine follows the style one...
NRV Maritime Riesling

Norfolk Rise Vineyard High and Dry Riesling 2023

From the same parcel of vines at Mt Benson as provides the fruit for their Summer Riesling, the team advise...
Norfolk Rise Fair Winds Cabernet Franc No Vintage

Norfolk Rise Vineyard Fair Winds Cabernet Franc 2022

Cabernet Franc from Mt Benson is not the most commonly encountered wine style in Australia, but this example shows it...
Windowrie The Mill Shiraz

Windowrie Central Ranges The Mill Shiraz 2023

This is my pick from the full range of their recent releases. A deep crimson colour here, the nose reveals...
Block Shiraz

Tenafeate Creek Wines Block 5 Shiraz 2021

As one might expect from the flagship wine, this is the pick of the range. The grapes are sourced from...

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...
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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...
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