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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.
Altus Rise Ascension Shiraz

Altus/Rise Ascension Shiraz 2023

The colour here is a vibrant inky purple, while the nose is redolent of chocolate, plums and cassis, supported by...
Thompson Estate Cab Sauv

Thompson Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

A very fine Margaret River Cabernet, revealing, yet again, just why the region is so highly regarded for this variety....
Thompson Estate Shiraz

Thompson Estate Shiraz 2023

Yet another superb vintage in Margaret River – you’d think they’d get sick of them but I’ll wager they never...
Thompson Estate The Specialist Chardonnay

Thompson Estate The Specialist Chardonnay 2024

French oak barriques, a portion new, contribute to the overall class and quality of this seriously good Chardonnay from Margaret...
Thompson Estate Chardonnay

Thompson Estate Chardonnay 2024

Like this a lot. A fine Margaret River Chardy, we can see a small, but well-integrated contribution from quality oak....
Thompson Estate Four Chambers SB

Thompson Estate Four Chambers Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Four Chambers may seem a pleasant, if innocuous name for a range of wines, but it relates back to the...
Pirathon Gold Bottle Transparent

Pirathon Gold Label Shiraz 2021

Gold Label represents the prestige wines in the Pirathon range and has done since 2016. This is from a superb...
Monterra BlueLabel Grenache

Monterra Single Vineyard Grenache 2023

A single vineyard Grenache from the Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale, this is a terrific example of what we...
Monterra Trio ShriazMataroGrenache

Monterra Trio McLaren Vale SMG 2022

A Shiraz dominant blend made famous in France’s Rhône and subsequently the great Aussie regions of the Barossa and McLaren...
Monterra DooleVineyard CabSauv

Monterra Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

From the Doole Vineyard in McLaren Vale, this warm climate Cabernet, typically full of flavour, spent time in French oak....
Monterra Reserve BDX

Monterra Reserve BDX 2022

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot from a very fine vintage for the McLaren Vale region, the...
Monterra Reserve Endersby Shiraz

Monterra Reserve Endersby Vineyard Shiraz 2023

From the designated vineyard in McLaren Vale, this is an inky dark purple. It offers lifted aromas with spices, mocha,...
Motnerra FarmiloBaker Shiraz

Monterra Familo Baker Shiraz 2023

Time in French oak has rounded off this flavoursome McLaren Vale Shiraz nicely. Deep magenta hue, the nose exhibits cloves,...
Monterra KyallaBaker Shiraz

Monterra Kyella Baker Shiraz 2023

I’ll confess that I am none the wiser as to what or whom Kyella Baker is, but if this wine...
BrownBrothers WineMakersSeries NV Shiraz mL

Brown Brothers Winemakers Series Shiraz 2022

Heathcote Shiraz continues to offer great drinking and this is a superb example, it is also amazing value. A crimson...
CaskShirazBottle

Hewitson CASK 66 Shiraz Barossa Valley 2023

The name comes from the address of the winery, 66 Seppeltsfield Road. Every year, the team will see a really...
Usual Suspects Vickery Eden Valley Mason Woodcarvers Vineyard Riesling

Vickery The Reserve Eden Valley Riesling 2022

From the excellent 2022 vintage, this is sourced from a single vineyard in the region, the Mason Woodcarvers Vineyard. Just...
Vickery Watervale Riesling media res

Vickery Watervale Riesling 2024

Even though the Master is no longer with us, great to see wines – Riesling, of course – which follow...
Usual Suspects Vickery Castine Hayshed Block Watervale Riesling

Vickery The Reserve Watervale Riesling 2021

If one might state out the outset, this is a serious contender for the best value of the year. A...
riesling NV

Paisley Eden Valley Cashmere Riesling 2024

A fine Eden Valley Riesling from an excellent vintage. The colour is a shining green/gold while the nose gives us...
monte

Paisley Barossa Valley Tartan Montepulciano 2023

What a famous Scottish fabric has to do with a delicious Italian variety grown in Australia’s Barossa Valley, I am...
cabsav

Paisley Barossa Valley Corduroy Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

I am advised by friends that corduroy trousers is apparently an appalling fashion faux pas, although it might have helped...
St Hugo Attunement

St Hugo Attunement Shiraz Cabernet 2018

Doing what Australia does best, a blend of regions and a blend of varieties for this cracking Barossa red from...
cab franc nv

Holm Oak Cabernet Franc 2024

There are just one hundred dozen bottles of this extremely impressive Cab Franc made, surely one of the best examples...

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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