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.
Pirramimma Katunga Cabernet Sauvignon

Pirramimma Katunga McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

My first thought was why would someone name a McLaren Vale Cabernet after a Bond villain? Perhaps they were big...
Rosily Shiraz NV

Rosily Shiraz 2023

Cracking value! The wine spent almost a year and a half maturing in French oak, both new and older. A...
Rosily Chardonnay NV

Rosily Chardonnay 2024

Every time I see wines from this superb and yet under the radar estate from Margaret River, I come away...
Mt Concord Syrah HR

Gioiello Mt Concord Syrah 2020

Cool climate Shiraz, or Syrah if you prefer, offers such a point of difference to the usual big, bold and...
Old House Merlot HR

Gioiello Old House Merlot 2020

After destemming this ripe Merlot fruit from the Upper Goulburn region spends a year and a half, or thereabouts, maturing...
contevine

Conte Estate Vine Shed Shiraz 2021

From an absolutely cracking vintage in McLaren Vale, the wine spent two years maturing in French oak. A dark magenta...
contepinot

Conte Estate Yabby Dam Pinot Noir 2024

One of the joys of reviewing wines is that there will always be something that surprises you. First up here...
over the hill conte shiraz

Conte Estate Reserve Over the Hill Shiraz 2020

The grapes are sourced from a McLaren Vale vineyard planted way back in 1880. Maturation is in French oak barrels,...
DevilsCorner Resolution NV Riesling mL

Devil’s Corner Resolution Riesling 2023

We sometimes forget that great Riesling is made in many regions in this country, not just the Eden and Clare...
DevilsCorner Resolution NV Chardonnay mL

Devil’s Corner Resolution Chardonnay 2022

The fruit here is sourced from vineyards on the East Coast of Tasmania and Tamar Valley. Wild yeast fermentation in...
TamarRidge NV PinotNoir mL

Tamar Ridge Pinot Noir 2023

From fruit sourced from the Tamar Valley, the wine includes a small amount of whole bunches in the fermentation, and...
deAlto el Primero

Des Alto Amo El Primero Rioja 2020

This attractive Rioja, different from those tired, old-fashioned oak-sodden monsters, is very much reliant on its fruit – one parcel...
unnamed

Golden Amrita Barossa Valley Shiraz 2018

A museum release from the Greenock vineyard, it is from another superb vintage for the region. Ageing was for two...
WARRAMUNDA SINGLE VINEYARD Pinot Noir NV

Warramunda Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024

From a single vineyard in the Yarra Valley’s Coldstream Hills sub-region, the team use 80% whole berries and 20% whole...
Warramunda Estate Chardonnay

Warramunda Estate Chardonnay 2024

The Estate Chardy sees whole bunch pressing before fermentation in oak, and nine months aging in new (30%) and older...
Warramunda Estate LivZac Pinot Noir

Warramunda Estate Liv Zak Pinot Noir 2024

Yarra Valley Pinot Noir from the Coldstream Hills sub-region, the colour here is a pale garnet. This is very much...
Warramunda Estate LivZac Chardonnay

Warramunda Estate Liv Zak Chardonnay 2023

The striking label will be the first thing that catches the eye with this fine Yarra Valley Chardonnay, but the...
WARRAMUNDA SINGLE VINEYARD Chardonnay NV

Warramunda Estate Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2024

Harvested from a single vineyard in the Coldstream Hills sub-region of the Yarra Valley, the wine spends nine months maturing...
Warramunda Estate Pinot Noir

Warramunda Estate Pinot Noir 2024

From the Coldstream Hills sub-region, this wine is from a range of clones, pressed into 500 litre French oak puncheons,...
Y Series Cuvee

Y Series Cuvée NV

An easy drinking style of sparkling, this is an attractive lemon yellow. It might be a simple style but there...
Y Series Prosecco

Y Series Prosecco NV

A wildly popular style, local Prosecco, and deservedly so. This is a bubbles designed for simple drinking but one which...
Y SERIES LIGHTER CUVEE

Y Series Lighter Cuvée 7% NV

The trend to non-alcoholic wine has seen a push for some lower alcohol styles as well. Kudos to the winemakers...
Y Series Shiraz Lighter

Y Series Lighter Shiraz 8% 2023

This is definitely worth grabbing, but note that the 2024 is about to hit the shelves as well. 8% alcohol,...
Y Series Pinot Noir

Y Series Pinot Noir 2024

Many will recall that a decade or two ago, the standard complaint for Pinot Noir was that there was no...

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...
Webicon

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...
winepilot