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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.
Peos Estate Four Aces Pinot Noir

Peos Estate Four Aces Pinot Noir 2021

10% of whole bunches with ten days on skins define this wine, which then spent nine months maturing in French...
Peos Estate Four Aces Chardonnay

Peos Estate Four Aces Chardonnay 2022

Barrel-fermented on a percentage of its lees then nine months maturation in French oak, the fruit for this thrilling Chardy...
Woodvale Vintners Woodberry Shiraz

Woodvale Woodberry Shiraz 2020

A single vineyard Clare Valley Shiraz, the Woodberry vineyard, the wine spent a year and a half in seasoned French...
Woodvale Vintners Sharegarden Shiraz

Woodvale Sharegarden Shiraz 2021

A seriously impressive Clare Valley Shiraz, this is dark maroon in colour, with notes of plums, chocolate, blackfruits, soy, mocha...
Woodvale Vintners Sharegarden Riesling

Woodvale Sharegarden Riesling 2023

More scintillating Clare Valley Riesling from the terrific 2023 vintage, this time from a combination of two vineyards. Free run...
EMILY JANE PINOT GRIGIO

Allegiance Wines Emily Jane Tumbarumba Pinot Grigio 2023

High altitude fruit from a single site, 530 metres above sea level at Tumbarumba, the wine spent three months on...
COX BAROSSA SHIRAZ

Cox Family Wines Barossa Shiraz 2021

From the Vine Vale sub-region in the Barossa, with vines in their third decade, the wine spent fifteen months in...
COX PINOT GRIGIO

Cox Family Wines Tumbarumba Pinot Grigio 2023

From the Tumbarumba region in New South Wales, one of the coolest sites found on mainland Australia, the wine was...
Stockman's Ridge Primrose Sparkling

Stockman’s Ridge Primrose Sparkling 2022

An appealing fizz from the Orange district, which is named after the winemaker’s granddaughter and not the pale pink/rose hue....
Stockmans Ridge Outlaw Chardonnay

Stockman’s Ridge Outlaw Chardonnay 2017

Always great to see a wine given time in the cellar before release, especially a complex white wine. It happens...
winepilot Paxton Argilla

Paxton Argilla Syrah Shiraz 2022

Something very different here for McLaren Vale, a wine aged in amphora which was brought from Impruneta, near Florence in...
winepilot Paxton JonesBlock

Paxton Jones Block Single Vineyard 2021

2021 was a superb vintage in McLaren Vale, especially for Shiraz. This wine confirms that and provides some truly brilliant...
winepilot Paxton MV

Paxton Shiraz MV 2022

MV stands for multiple vineyard, the team have six biodynamic vineyards in the region and this wine has fruit from...
winepilot Paxton Mataro

Paxton Mataro 2021

As with all these Paxton wines, they are made using biodynamic processes. In the end it is the quality of...
winepilot Paxton AAA

Paxton AAA Shiraz Grenache 2022

Stunning value here. A blend of 55% Shiraz and 41% Grenache, with a further 4% Mataro, the wine spent nine...
winepilot Paxton Rose

Paxton Rosé 2023

This delightful McLaren Vale Rosé is made from a 50/50 spilt of Shiraz and Grenache. Stainless steel fermentation, the aim...
winepilot Paxton PinotGris

Paxton Pinot Gris 2023

From their Thomas Block, one of the cooler sites in McLaren Vale, fermentation is in stainless steel and biodynamic principles...
DAOSA Rosé vintage()

Daosa Rosé 2021

A blend of Pinot Noir (88%), Chardonnay (8%) and Pinot Meunier (4%), which spent extra time on skins to provide...
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Daosa Natural Reserve NV

A non-vintage blend of the trio of great champagne grapes, Chardonnay (39%), Pinot Noir (60%) and Pinot Meunier (1%), from...
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Daosa Blanc de Blancs 2019

This superb local sparkler, 100% Chardonnay, spent more than four years on lees, impressive even by the standards seen in...
SWPNWC NV Website Bottle Shot

Silkwood Estate The Walcott Pinot Noir 2022

Pemberton Pinot Noir, which spent ten months maturing in French oak barriques, 20% of them new. Pale crimson in colour,...
CDROLD NV Website Bottle Shot

Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhône Rosé 2022

Hard to go past this Provencal Rosé if you are looking for light yet flavoursome summer drinking at an amazing...
SWRSWC NV Website Bottle Shot

Silkwood Estate The Walcott Single Vineyard Riesling 2022

A very fine Pemberton Riesling from a single vineyard, this will offer considerable pleasure over the next 6 to 7...
CDRBLD NV Website Bottle Shot

Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhône 2021

Cracking value for a full flavoured French red from the Rhône Valley, this is 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. The...

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...
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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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