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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.
Stockmans Ridge Rider Pinot Gris

Stockman’s Ridge Rider Pinot Gris 2023

Fruit here is from a young (planted 2012) vineyard in the Orange region, but a highly regarded one, being one...
Stockmans Ridge Primrose

Stockman’s Ridge Primrose Rosé 2023

This delicious and impressive Rosé is from a single vineyard, 100% Shiraz, at the lofty altitude of 950 metres in...
Byron & Harold The Protocol Chardonnay

Byron & Harold Protocol Chardonnay 2023

A fine Margaret River Chardonnay with a flick of French oak adding nutmeg to the mix, ensuring complexity and a...
Byron & Harold The Partners Chardonnay

Byron & Harold The Partners Chardonnay 2023

Fascinating to see this Great Southern Chardonnay alongside its sibling from Margaret River. Yes, it is not a competition, but…...
Moss Brothers Fidium Chardonnay

Moss Brothers Fidium Chardonnay 2023

The cracking Chardonnays from Margaret River just seem to be part of an endless production line – a great thing...
JARDIN AROMES ROSE JCM

Jardin d’Aromes Rosé 2022

This classic Rosé from the south of France is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Jean-Claude Mas is...
Shiraz NV

O’Leary Walker Clare Shiraz 2021

This superb Clare Valley Shiraz, which has been racking up the bling as they say in the classics, was sourced...
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon RRP $

Dowie Doole Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

From the team’s estate in McLaren Vale, this exhibits a deep red hue. There are notes of warm earth and...
Reserve Shiraz

Dowie Doole The Reserve Shiraz 2018

Serious stuff here, the stars have aligned with top notch Shiraz from some of the better vineyards in McLaren Vale...
NV Moxie Sparkling Shiraz RRP $

Dowie Doole DD Moxie Sparkling Shiraz NV

Who doesn’t love a good spurgles (sparkling Shiraz for the younger brigade)? Apparently, quite a few people, but as they...
Banker Shiraz RRP $

Dowie Doole The Banker Shiraz 2019

From the Tatachilla sub-region in McLaren Vale, the colour here is an opaque maroon. A wine of concentration, power and...
Architect Cabernet Sauvignon RRP $

Dowie Doole The Architect Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

From the team’s estate vineyard at Blewitt Springs, one of the most highly regarded sub-regions of McLaren Vale, this hails...
DD Cabernet Sauvignon RRP $

Dowie Doole DD Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Warm climate Cabernet has a place, especially from such a superb vintage as this. The wine spent time, eighteen months,...
DD Shiraz RRP $

Dowie Doole DD Shiraz 2021

Wines like this leave no question that Shiraz is divinely suited to the McLaren Vale region. This is from the...
DD Shiraz Grenache RRP $

Dowie Doole DD Shiraz Grenache 2021

A blend of fruit from two estate vineyards in McLaren Vale, the split is Shiraz 82%, with Grenache making up...
G&T RRP $

Dowie Doole G&T Grenache Tempranillo 2022

Whilst a ‘G&T’ might conjure up thoughts of a different drink, here it stands for Grenache and Tempranillo. Sourced from...
Roseì RRP $

Dowie Doole DD Rosé 2023

Like many of the new wave of fine Rosé wines we are seeing from across the land, the benchmark here...
Chenin Blanc RRP $

Dowie Doole DD Chenin Blanc 2022

The team believes that the fruit for this wine came from the oldest Chenin Blanc vineyard in the country, part...
TheDorrienBankCabernetSauvignonBottle

Hewitson The Dorrien Bank Cabernet 2022

From a vineyard planted in 1996 that came into the Hewitson fold in 2019, after several years of serious vineyard...
MonopoleShirazBottle

Hewitson Monopole Shiraz 2021

A single vineyard wine, the Shiraz here has all been cultivated from a single Shiraz vine, located in the Old...
BarrelBottle

Hewitson 1853 Barrel 2021

The annual blending of the barrels (sounds like an Aussie version of the running with the bulls), the team select...
OldGardenMouvedreBottle

Hewitson Old Garden Vineyard Mourvèdre 2021

The world’s oldest Mourvèdre vines, planted in 1853 in the Old Garden Vineyard, provide us with something a bit special....
Bethany Wines JGS Shiraz

Bethany Barossa Shiraz JGS 2022

A fine Barossa Shiraz from one of the oldest and most respected producers in the region, with the added benefit...
Peos Four Kings Chardonnay

Peos Estate Four Kings Chardonnay 2023

A youthful but intensely flavoured style of Chardonnay. As ever, the quality of fruit shines through. This has a pale...

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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