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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 Protocol Chardonnay

Byron & Harold The Protocol Chardonnay 2024

The fruit here,100% Gingin clone, is largely from the Karridale subregion. The team use a high percentage of solids and...
EMILY JANE PINOT GRIGIO

Allegiance Emily Jane Tumbarumba Pinot Grigio 2025

A zesty style of Pinot Gris from the Tumbarumba region. The vineyard sits around 530 metres above sea level and...
THOMAS JAMES PINOT GRIS

Allegiance Thomas James Tumbarumba Pinot Gris 2025

A fresh Pinot Gris from the high altitude Tumbarumba region (the vineyard sitting around 530 metres above sea level), the...
MATRON CHARDONNAY

Allegiance The Matron Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2025

From an elevated vineyard in the Tumbarumba region, fermentation takes place with the influence of French oak staves, followed by...
TIGER SHIRAZ

Allegiance The Tiger McLaren Vale Shiraz 2024

The fruit for this thoroughly attractive McLaren Vale Shiraz comes from the base of the Willunga foothills. Maturation was for...
FOREMAN CABERNET

Allegiance The Foreman Coonawarra Cabernet 2024

From what is proving to be a good vintage in the Coonawarra region, the colour of this wine is a...
TTW Omerta Shiraz

Thicker than Water Omertà McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021

From brilliant vintage for the region, Omerta, as any fan of the Goodfellas genre of movies knows, means keep your...
ASB AMICUS SHIRAZ HI

Amicus A Shiraz 2021

A year and a half maturing in French oak hogsheads sees this wine, from the superb 2021 vintage, off to...
Amicus Reserve

Amicus Reserve Shiraz 2022

From a fine McLaren Vale vintage, there is a lot to like about this Shiraz. The colour is a vibrant...
MOONVINE SHIRAZ HI

Moonvine Shiraz McLaren Vale 2021

From a superb vintage for the region, the team operate under biodynamic principles. The colour here is an inky dark...
Crowded House Sauvignon Blanc

Crowded House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Marlborough in the South Island of New Zealand, has undoubtedly become Ground Zero for Savvy lovers. These guys have been...
Hazeldene Block Pinot Noir

Oakridge 864 Block 1 Hazeldene Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024

This vineyard is planted to the MV6 clone. 3/4s of the berries are destemmed into an open fermenter on top...
Close Planted Block Syrah

Oakridge 864 Close Planted Block Oakridge Vineyard Syrah 2023

Planting here is at 5,200 plants per hectare. 70% of the grapes were destemmed into an open fermenter on the...
Winery Block Cabernet Sauvignon

Oakridge 864 Winery Block Oakridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Once or twice in the past, I have wondered whether or not the top Oakridge wines were simply too perfect,...
Funder & Diamond Chardonnay

Oakridge 864 Drive Block Funder and Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

Yet another superb 864 Chardonnay from the 2023 vintage, this vineyard is planted to the P58 clone. The grapes are...
Henk Aqueduct Chardonnay

Oakridge 864 Aqueduct Block Henk Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

Unless someone has been living under a rock for the last decade, there is probably little point in me telling...
Renzaglia PinotGris

Renzaglia Pinot Gris 2024

From a high altitude vineyard, 900 metres above sea level, from a vineyard to the northeast of Orange, this is...
Renzaglia PinotNoir NV

Renzaglia Pinot Noir 2024

From the Patina Vineyard in the Central Ranges, this is the first release of Pinot Noir from the team. The...
Renzaglia GrenacheTempranillo NV

Renzaglia Grenache Tempranillo 2024

An intriguing blend of varieties, both were sourced from the biodynamic Wallington vineyard in Canowindra. The Tempranillo was fermented as...
Renzaglia Sangiovese

Renzaglia Sangiovese 2024

The Sangiovese fruit for this one came from the First Ridge team in Mudgee. After fermentation, the wine went to...
Fiano ()

Oliver’s Taranga Fiano 2025

Is there anything more annoying than when some poor contestant on Masterchef serves a bowl of ice cream and gets...
AnforeFiano

Oliver’s Taranga Anfore Fiano 2024

The team’s best Fiano is aged in three Terracotta anfore (Italian for amphora), hence the name. Corrina got the idea...
First Ridge Barbera NV ()

First Ridge Barbera 2023

From an elevated single vineyard in the Mudgee region in NSW, this is maroon/purple in colour. A most appealingly generous...
First Ridge Montepulciano NV

First Ridge Montepulciano 2023

The Mudgee region in New South Wales is proving to be an excellent source for local wines made with Italian...

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...
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...

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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