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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.
Driftwood T Artifacts Cab Sauv

Driftwood Artifacts Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

 Margaret River Cabernet is always a winner, this is a heavily dominant Cab, but also includes 4.5% Petit Verdot. The...
AULD FAMILY WINES ZC Edit NO Reflection Edit HighRes

Auld Wines Shiraz 2022

This is a cracking Barossa Shiraz from a superb vintage and seriously good value. The colour here is a deep...
Wilberforce Riesling NV

Auld Wines Wilberforce Eden Valley Riesling 2023

The Auld name is a famous one in Aussie wine. The name Wilberforce, perhaps less so, but Wilberforce was the...
SchildEstate OldVine Shiraz NV

Schild Estate Old Vine Barossa Shiraz 2020

Old vine Barossa Shiraz and for many winelovers, it does not get better than this. Of course, some are better...
SchildEstate Edel Shiraz NV

Schild Estate Edel Shiraz 2018

Another superb Barossa Shiraz – generous, bold, balanced and decadent. Only 25 barrels of this wine were made so do...
AA PinotNoir ml Hi RGB

Aces & Arrows Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021

For me, I would have assumed a long queue of winemakers lining up to grab dibs on Central Otago Pinot...
AA Vermentino ml Hi RGB

Aces & Arrows Vermentino Riverland 2022

Vermentino from the Riverland would seem to be unlikely to be many winemakers’ first choice for such a project, but...
AA Grenache ml Hi RGB

Aces & Arrows Grenache Barossa 2019

Finally, Mick got Barossa Grenache. His fascination with the variety started in Spain, but here, he has some wonderful old...
AA Gruner ml Hi RGB

Aces & Arrows Grüner Veltliner Adelaide Hills 2020

This is part of what overlords, Pernod Ricard, see as a ‘Passion Project’, and one, I imagine, that the winemakers...
Cellar Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Wild Game Wines Cellar Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Always good to be able to access older wines, especially at such a very reasonable price. There are not many...
Old Vine Shiraz Grenache ()

Arila Gardens Shiraz Grenache Old Vines 2022

A fine Barossa blend, this has a maroon/purple hue and a nose that offers spices, coffee beans, chocolate, bay leaves,...
Unity Tumba Chardonnay

Allegiance Wines Unity Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2023

A single vineyard wine, from their vineyard which is located some 530 metres above sea level in the cool region...
COX CHARDONNAY

Cox Family Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2023

The vineyard here is situated at 530 metres above sea level, and is one of the cooler vineyards located in...
ALLEGIANCE MATRON CHARDONNAY

Allegiance Wines The Matron Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2023

From the cooler and high altitude region of Tumbarumba in NSW, which has proved so suitable for quality Chardonnay. The...
Wild Game The Duke Cabernet Sauvignon

Wild Game Wines The Duke Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

From vineyards in the northeast of the Coonawarra region, this is a serious and seriously good Cabernet. Dark garnet in...
Wild Game The Dame Shiraz

Wild Game Wines The Dame Coonawarra Shiraz 2018

A deep red hue here with a slightly more ochre tone on the rim. Most appealing aromatics swirl around with...
Wild Game The Duchess Riesling

Wild Game Wines The Duchess Riesling 2021

From volcanic soils near Mount Gambier, the colour here is pale lemon. The immediate impression is of good intensity with...
GSM

Paisley Turntable GSM Barossa Valley 2022

Derek, one half of the current custodians, had a love for dance party and techno music (I am assuming the...
mataro NV

Paisley Mataro Barossa Valley Denim 2021

Now we get to the unfortunately named Denim Mataro. A maroon garnet colour, there are quite powerful aromatics on display...
shiraz NV

Paisley Shiraz Barossa Valley Silk 2021

I suspect that dubbing the Shiraz as ‘Silk’, would make the Mataro extremely envious with ‘Denim’? At least Grenache got...
Fiano Adelaide Hills & Eden Valley NV

Paisley Fiano Adelaide Hills Eden Valley Linen 2023

The fruit comes from two vineyards in the Adelaide Hills and Eden Valley, both with good altitude. Fiano has been...
riesling NV

Paisley Riesling Eden Valley Cashmere 2023

The Paisley name comes from the Scottish town of Paisley, and yes, the town is synonymous with the fashion design....
rings cabernet sauvignon small NV

3 Rings Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Just 1,800 cases of this fresh and youthful Barossa Cabernet. Again, time on skins followed by maturation in a mix...
rings shiraz NV front () small

3 Rings Barossa Shiraz 2021

25,000 cases of cracking value Barossa Shiraz here, from a superb vintage. The wine spends time on skins before ageing...

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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