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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.
BS GC Chard mid

Brand & Sons Grand Central Chardonnay 2024

The Chardonnay used here was formerly the fruit which went into the old Brands Laira Chardy. Free run juice only...
Glenroy SZ

Brand & Sons Glenroy Single Vineyard Shiraz 2021

If Riesling was once more highly regarded in the Coonawarra region than it finds itself today, Shiraz was close to...
nightfall Balance cabernets

Brand & Sons Nightfall The Balance Coonawarra Libra NV

As they say in the classics, and now for something completely different. A non-vintage red from Coonawarra, pretty much as...
Sanctuary mid

Brand & Sons Sanctuary Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

This wine combines the best Cabernet from a range of Coonawarra vineyards accessible to the family. These vineyards were largely...
JB silent partner cab

Brand & Sons Silent Partner Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra 2022

This superb Limited Release Coonawarra Cabernet is dedicated to one of the nice guys of the Australian wine industry, the...
Tyrrells Old Winery Shiraz NV xpx

Tyrrell’s Old Winery Shiraz 2024

While Tyrrells are inextricably linked to the Hunter Valley, they have also long been a dominant force in Heathcote and...
Koonara Angels Wings Cab Shiraz

Koonara Angel Wings Cabernet Shiraz 2021

The great Aussie red blend – Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz – the Angel Wings is the first time this winery...
Devils Ridge Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir

Devils Ridge Block 1 Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2024

This is a private label Pinot from the Adelaide Hills, which is cracking value. An attractive crimson hue, the nose...
Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Blend Bottle Shot

Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernets Merlot Franc 2021

2021 was a cracking vintage in the Wrattonbully region – the home of this famous vineyard. The blend is 53.5%...
Tapanappa WhaleboneVineyard MerlotCabFranc

Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2015

As always, the opportunity to source a wine already matured by the producers is an opportunity which should not be...
Alter Chardonnay

Alter Chardonnay 2021

The fruit here is sourced from the Merton Vineyard in the Upper Hunter. Great to see a Chardy given some...
Bimbadgen Growers Chardonnay

Bimbadgen Estate B Growers Chardonnay 2022

This attractive Upper Hunter Valley Chardonnay saw fermentation in oak barriques, before ten months maturation on lees. The oak was...
Bimbadgen Growers Semillon

Bimbadgen Estate B Growers Semillon 2024

It will come as a surprise to no one that the Semillon in the Growers range comes from the Hunter...
Bimbadgen Growers Pinot Gris

Bimbadgen Estate B Growers Pinot Gris 2024

The Growers Range represents the best fruit sourced from various locations, mostly the Hunter Valley, but not for all of...
Alter Shiraz

Alter Shiraz Pinot Noir 2022

Interesting to see that blending these two varieties is becoming more and more popular. It worked many years ago and...
La Luna Shiraz

Bimbadgen Estate La Luna Shiraz 2021

Hunter Valley Shiraz designed to offer immediate gratification, though it will certainly handle a few years in the cellar. It...
Bimbadgen Limited Release Sangiovese

Bimbadgen Estate Limited Release Sangiovese 2023

Sangiovese from the Lovedale sub-region in the Lower Hunter, this is under cork. Maturation was in old French oak. Crimson...
First Terrain Shiraz

Bimbadgen Estate First Terrain Shiraz 2021

From McLaren Vale fruit, the wine enjoyed a ten day ferment, before fourteen months maturing in French oak barriques. Wonderful...
La Luna Pinot Gris

Bimbadgen Estate La Luna Pinot Gris 2022

Hunter Valley Pinot Gris here, with fermentation in stainless steel. The result is a thoroughly enjoyable wine to drink without...
Bimbadgen NV Cuvee

Bimbadgen Estate Hunter Valley Cuvée NV

A sparkler dominated by Semillon with some Chardonnay in support, a 65/35 blend, the fruit all hails from the Upper...
Bimbadgen NV Sparkling Semillon

Bimbadgen Estate Sparkling NV

A non-vintage sparkler made from Semillon, harvested from both the Upper and Lower Hunter Valleys. For the colour, imagine a...
Ghostgum Chardonnay Halliday

Ghost Gum Southern Lights Chardonnay 2023

The third release of the Ghost Gum wines from Mornington Peninsula, more specifically the legendary Main Ridge sub-region, and great...
Ghostgum Pinot Noir Halliday

Ghost Gum Southern Lights Pinot Noir 2023

Pinot Noir from the Mornington Peninsula is one of this country’s most exciting styles of red. Three blocks combined to...
Auld Family Wines Family Series Pinot Gris ()

Auld Family Wines Eden Valley Pinot Gris 2025

Their second release of this wine, it is fresh and certainly youthful. The colour here is close to water, tints...

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...
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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...
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