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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.
Bottle Shot MRCAS

Jack Estate M-R Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

Sourced from various vineyards throughout the Limestone Coast region, the colour of the wine is a deep blood red with...
Bottle Shot JECAS

Jack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

Coonawarra Cabernet which has been sourced from selected growers, this is from an excellent vintage for the region and represents...
Pirie NV mL

Pirie Traditional Method Sparkling 2021

Named after one of the pioneers of the Tasmanian wine industry, Andrew Pirie, this wine has always ranked amongst Australia’s...
BrownBrothers NV Classic PinotNoir mL FRONT

Brown Brothers Pinot Noir 2025

Victorian Pinot Noir, including fruit from the King Valley, this is terrific value for anyone looking for an easy drinking,...

Oakridge Blanc de Blancs 2019

Yarra Valley sparkling which spent almost six years on lees, this is a most impressive bottle of Aussie fizz. 100%...
NV Oakridge Horst Riesling ()

Oakridge Horst Riesling 2025

A very slightly off-dry Riesling from the Yarra Valley, named in honour of the man who planted the Estate’s first...
VS Hazeldene Chardonnay

Oakridge Hazeldene Chardonnay 2024

This wine is part of the Oakridge Vineyard Series. It should be noted at the outset that the Vineyard Series...
VS Henk Chardonnay ()

Oakridge Henk Chardonnay 2024

From the subregion of Woori Yallock, the wine was made in the usual way with whole bunch pressing into 500-litre...
VS Willowlake Chardonnay

Oakridge Willowlake Chardonnay 2024

As with the Hazeldene Chardonnay in this Vineyard Series, this wine is from the Gladysdale sub-region. Again, the winemaking sees...
VS Hazeldene Pinot Noir

Oakridge Hazeldene Pinot Noir 2024

The Vineyard Series offers mirror images of the same vineyards in the Yarra Valley for both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir....
VS Henk Pinot Noir

Oakridge Henk Pinot Noir 2024

From the Woori Yallock sub-region, this Pinot heads down a more savoury, almost meaty track. Similar winemaking with a natural...
VS Willowlake Pinot Noir

Oakridge Willowlake Pinot Noir 2024

Again, from the Gladysdale sub-region, the winemaking reflected the team’s typical approach to Pinot with whole bunch/berry fermentation in open...
NV Oakridge Meunier

Oakridge Meunier 2025

We see very few table wines made from this red variety which is traditionally used in sparklers. The aim is...

Oakridge Shiraz 2024

A cooler climate Shiraz from the Yarra Valley, the fruit is sourced from the actual Oakridge vineyard at Coldstream. The...
Oakridge VS Hyde Park Shiraz NV

Oakridge Hyde Park Shiraz 2024

From the Hyde Park vineyard in the Coldstream sub-region of the Yarra Valley, this is a cracking cooler climate Shiraz....
Oakridge VS Hyde Park Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Oakridge Hyde Park Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

Also from the Coldstream sub-region in the Yarra Valley, this is an impressive Cabernet Sauvignon, which has its best days...
Walk This Way Riesling NV ()

Claymore Walk this Way Clare Valley Riesling 2025

The team at Claymore are closely associated with their love for music and this is reflected in pretty much everything...
Who Are You Shiraz Mataro resized

Claymore Who are You Shiraz Mataro 2024

Again with the music, but more importantly, this has to be contender for best value red of the year. Cracking...
La Vigne & la roche rosé cl LR

Estadon La Vigne/La Roche Rosé Côtes de Provence 2025

This is a serious Rosé. If you fall into the category who think that Rosé is simply a bit of...
MOSS WOOD Deep Etch RV Elsa ()

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Elsa 2025

Friends in the West tell me that the final outcome of the 2025 vintage in Margaret River may rival the...
MOSS WOOD Deep Etch RV Chardonnay ()

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Chardonnay 2025

An impressive Margaret River Chardonnay from the Ribbon Vale Vineyard, handpicked fruit was delivered to the winery for hand sorting...
AtkinsFarmPinotNoir

Atkins Farm Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2025

A fresh, youthful and thoroughly delicious Adelaide hills Pinot Noir, the wine has a garnet colour with a russet rim....
OH PF Spark Rosé NEW ()

Organic Hill Cuvée Rosé 2024

As with all the Organic Hill wines, this has been made with no preservatives and under organic principles/certification. This sparkling...
OH PF Monte ()

Organic Hill Montepulciano 2024

Montepulciano continues to prove itself very much worthy of its position as one of the leading emerging Italian varieties. This...

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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