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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.
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Pikes Il Premio Sangiovese 2023

Always fascinating to be able to try the same wine from different vintages and Pikes have released both this and...
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Supercargo Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2025

A fresh and youthful Pinot Noir from the Adelaide Hills, which really stands out. Pale cherry red with a faded...
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Frankland Estate Isolation Ridge Syrah 2024

The same vineyard providing the fruit for a scintillating Riesling and a really superb Syrah/Shiraz – the French would have...
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Frankland Estate Olmo’s Reward 2023

The Estate’s flagship red, which they describe as a Bordeaux style blend, though the majority of the wine is Cabernet...
Pepper Tree Merlot Wrattonbully

Pepper Tree Wrattonbully Merlot 2022

Merlot from Wrattonbully has proved to be one of those under the radar varieties, just sneaking along and providing us...
Pepper Tree Pinot Gris Wrattonbully OAa

Pepper Tree Pinot Gris Wrattonbully 2025

A well-priced Pinot Gris from the Wrattonbully region, the colour is a lemon/straw with flecks of green throughout. The nose...
Pepper Tree Chardonnay Cool Climates

Pepper Tree Cool Climates Chardonnay 2024

The team described this is having fruit sourced from various cool climate regions, although we don’t know exactly which these...
Pepper Tree Limited Release Pinot Noir Orange OA

Pepper Tree Limited Release Orange Pinot Noir 2024

From Estate vineyards in the Orange region, this Pinot Noir has the benefit of fruit growing at a higher altitude,...
Pepper Tree Alternate Series Tempranillo Wrattonbully

Pepper Tree Alternative Series Wrattonbully Tempranillo 2023

Tell the Spanish that Tempranillo is an alternative variety and they would look at you as though you are insane....
Pepper Tree Cabernet Sauvignon Wrattonbully Coonawarra

Pepper Tree Wrattonbully and Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The fruit here is sourced from the neighbouring Coonawarra and Wrattonbully regions, from an excellent vintage in both. The colour...
Pepper Tree Shiraz Cool Climates RED

Pepper Tree Cool Climates Shiraz 2022

Shiraz from cooler, but unidentified climes, this is a maroon/deep red hue. It exhibits notes of a dusty road, cranberries,...
Pertaringa BelongingToTheHills GSM

Pertaringa Belonging to the Hills GSM 2025

This might just be the most enjoyable version of this wine I’ve yet encountered. It is a cracker. The name...
NV Franca's Vineyard Tempranillo

Russell & Suitor Franca Tempranillo 2025

Spain’s most famous red variety is doing very nicely indeed, in Australia. This example is from the Riverland. Vibrant dark...
NV Franca's Vineyard Pinot Noir

Russell & Suitor Franca Pinot Noir 2025

Sourced from South Australian fruit and seeing a touch of French oak during production, this is a very pleasant and...
NV Franca's Vineyard Grenache

Russell & Suitor Franca Grenache 2025

South Australian Grenache, the team have operated on the basis of minimal intervention to allow the pure fruit flavours to...
NV Franca's Vineyard Chardonnay

Russell & Suitor Franca Chardonnay 2025

This fresh and youthful South East Australian Chardonnay sees the use of French oak to increase texture and complexity. That...
NV Son of a Bull Pinot Noir

Russell & Suitor Son of a Bull Pinot Noir 2025

Part of the attractively labelled Tasmanian range, this is a light, fresh and attractive style of Pinot Noir destined for...
NV Son of a Bull Pinot Gris

Russell & Suitor Son of a Bull Pinot Gris 2025

Early days and very much a generalisation, but it does seem that the 2025 vintage in Tasmania is a most...
NV Son of a Bull Merlot

Russell & Suitor Son of a Bull Merlot 2025

For me, this vintage of their Tasmanian Merlot takes a step up from the previous release. A gleaming crimson/mauve in...
NV Son of a Bull Sparkling

Russell & Suitor Son of a Bull Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay 2025

The Son of a Bull range highlights wines from Tasmania, including this sparkling made from a blend of Chardonnay and...
NV Son of a Bull Pinot Gris

Russell & Suitor Son of a Bull Pinot Gris 2025

This is a variety well suited to the cooler climes of Tasmania. It opens with a spicy, floral, subtle stone...
NV Son of a Bull RPG

Russell & Suitor Son of a Bull Riesling Pinot Gris Gewurztraminer 2025

From Tasmania, this intriguing blend gives more than a nod to the Alsace region of France. The colour here is...
NV Alejandro Saperavi

Russell & Suitor Alejandro Saperavi 2025

This younger version of the famous Georgian Saperavi grape is sourced from the Riverland. Again, both French and American oak...
NV Alejandro Saperavi

Russell & Suitor Alejandro Saperavi 2024

Saperavi is the famous Georgian grape which is now making inroads in other winegrowing regions around the world. This example...

Stories

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There is surely no wine region in this country which has more elite wineries than Margaret River. The advantage for...
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Penfolds Superblend

Every Australian winelover will surely be aware of just how much Penfolds love to release special wines, whether they have...
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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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