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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.
Black Magic Women NV x

Claymore Black Magic Woman Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Dry grown vines provided the fruit for this classic Clare Cabernet, which spent two years maturing in French oak. From...
Wynns Single Vineyard Limited Edition CabFranc Coonawarra AUS FB SC

Wynns Cabernet Franc 2024

This is the first time we have seen a straight Cabernet Franc from Wynns and it is a cracker, suggesting...
Four Chambers Cabernet

Thompson Estate Four Chambers Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The name comes from a nod to the history of cardiology with the founding family. As with all wines from...
Thompson Estate Cab Sauv

Thompson Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The full array of the glories of Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon are on display here – take advantage. The colour...
Thompson Estate The Specialist Cab Sauv

Thompson Estate The Specialist Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

A stellar Margaret River Cabernet. 3,075 bottles. Dark cherry red with a maroon rim. The immediate impression here is of...
Thompson Estate The Specialist Chardonnay

Thompson Estate The Specialist Chardonnay 2024

Those who have not encountered this wine previously need to rectify that as soon as possible, especially if they are...
Thompson Estate Chardonnay

Thompson Estate Chardonnay 2024

Margaret River Chardonnay is one of this country’s great wine styles. These guys are relative newcomers to the pointy end...
Hobbs Gregor Shiraz

Hobbs Gregor Barossa Ranges Shiraz 2023

Always an intriguing style with Barossa Ranges Shiraz semi-dried in the manner we see in certain Italian regions, known as...
Hobbs Shiraz

Hobbs 1905 Barossa Ranges Shiraz 2023

Barossa Shiraz from a block planted back in 1905, this is fermented in 500-litre vats with wild yeasts, before two...
Head The Brunette

Head The Brunette Shiraz 2023

For grapes to make the cut for this wine, they must come from vineyards which outperform every year and which...
Head Red Shrz

Head Red Shiraz 2023

The barrels used here were largely ex-Chardonnay, which is an interesting twist. The vineyards which provided the fruit – there...
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...

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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