Avatar photo

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.
HeritageSeries OVShz

Lou Miranda 1907 Centenarian Old Vine Shiraz 2019

The grapes for this superb Barossa Shiraz come from the team’s dry grown Church Block, which was planted way back...
HeritageSeries OVShzMouv

Lou Miranda 1898 Centenarian Old Vine Shiraz Mataro 2021

A great Barossa vintage and fruit from the dry grown Angel’s Block at Lyndoch, which was planted in 1898 and...
Yalumba Running with Bulls Shiraz

Running with Bulls Bullish Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024

This appealing Barossa Shiraz, which underwent a natural ferment, has a dollop of Tempranillo added, to crank up its spicy...
Yalumba Running with Bulls Tempranillo Bagnum

Running with Bulls Barossa Valley Tempranillo 2023

They call this very convenient 1.5 litre bag a Bagnum, which I rather like. Almost as much as I like...
LEEUWIN Deep Etch Cab Sav

Leeuwin Estate Art Series Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

There is debate in the Margaret River region as to whether 2022 or 2023 is the better vintage. It is...
LEEUWIN ESTATE Deep Etched AS Shiraz

Leeuwin Estate Art Series Margaret River Shiraz 2023

This just might be the value buy from the Art Series range – actually, from recent releases, it surely is....
legion chardonnay bottle shot copy

Curtis Legion Chardonnay 2025

Sourced from regions across South Australia, this is an easy drinking style. A bright yellow in colour, the nose heads...
Terra rossa bottle shot black cap copy

Curtis Terra Rossa Shiraz 2024

An early example of the quality of the recent 2024 vintage, this McLaren Vale Shiraz is a blood red hue,...
Tiberius shiraz bottle shot copy

Curtis Tiberius Shiraz 2021

The use of the squat bot is becoming a little more widespread and the team have employed it for their...
Martins LTD shiraz NV bottle shot

Curtis Martins Vineyard Shiraz 2021

This absolutely cracking McLaren Vale Shiraz saw maturation in new French oak barrels, sourced from the famous Troncais first in...
CFV heritage Shiraz

Curtis Heritage Shiraz 2021

McLaren Vale Shiraz from a great vintage is a joy and this is a superb example. A vibrant dark purple...
cavaliere cab sauv bottle revised copy

Curtis Cavaliere Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Both American and French oak, ranging from new to two-years-old, was employed for the maturation of this fine McLaren Vale...
Barossa Cellar Grenache lowres

Barons of the Barossa Barossa Cellar Grenache 2024

Impossible to imagine just how much talent and experience goes into these wines. The range is a not-for-profit operation to...
NV Barossa Cellar Shiraz LOW

Barons of the Barossa Barossa Cellar Shiraz 2023

Each parcel which ended up contributing to this wine came from a famous winery – Glaetzer, Elderton, Torbreck, Peter Lehmann,...
Barossa Cellar Tawny lowres

Barons of the Barossa Barossa Cellar Tawny 10-Years-Old

Great to see wines like this – good examples are a joy to drink, but where once they were plentiful,...
MB Moses Rock—Sauv Blanc

Moses Rock Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2024

The colour here is a pale lemon hue, while the nose immediately reveals considerable pungency, with varietal characters to the...
Moss Brothers Moses Rock Chardonnay

Moses Rock Margaret River Chardonnay 2024

Fruit for this rather elegant Chardonnay hails from the northern parts of Margaret River. Fermentation was in a mix of...
Moss Brothers Moses Rock Cab Sauvignon

Moses Rock Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

This is a cracking value Margaret River Cabernet and one which will also reward time in the cellar. It is...
Beresford Rose

Beresford Rosé 2024

A blend of McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon and 60-year-old bush vine Grenache from Blewitt Springs (the estate’s vineyard), a highly...
Grenache

Beresford Old Vines Grenache 2023

The fruit here hails from the estate’s own vineyard with its sixty-year-old Grenache bush vines. Fermentation, in an open fermenter,...
Beresford Classic GSM NV

Beresford Barrel Select GSM 2022

The famous Rhône blend is transported to McLaren Vale with this delicious red, which offers amazing value. Both the Shiraaz...
Beresford Classic CabSauv screwcap NV

Beresford Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Cabernet Sauvignon from the Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale, which is slightly cooler than most of the rest of...
Beresford Estate CabSauv NV ()

Beresford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

By now, most wine lovers will be all too aware that 2021 was a stellar vintage in regions like McLaren...
Beresford LimitedRease CabSauv Front

Beresford Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Only 89 dozen were made of this fine, aged Cabernet from the Blewitt Springs sub-region in McLaren Vale. The wine...

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...
winepilot