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.
CMSARI NV Website Bottle Shot

Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico Riserva 2021

The local wineries are known for including a dollop (around 5%) of Merlot with their Sangiovese here in Chianti, and...
BLRSTR NV Website Bottle Shot

Becker Landgraf Trocken Riesling 2022

German Riesling done in a drier style, which sets it up nicely for a range of more delicate dishes, fresh...
DDCHXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Deep Down Marlborough Chardonnay 2023

Deep straw colour, there are lovely rich and ripe notes on the nose, with hints of peaches, mandarins, stone fruits,...
DDSBXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Deep Down Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023

A single vineyard wine, organic, and with wild fermentation, around one-third in old puncheons, the colour here is a gleaming...
DDWBXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Deep Down Marlborough Blanc 2023

This is a wine which focuses on the Marlborough region, rather than on any single variety, which in this region...
KKPNXX Website Bottle Shot

Kuru Kuru Pinot Noir 2019

The name gives respect to senior members of the local Mãori. From Central Otago, the colour here is a red...
CFPGRI NV Website Bottle Shot

Castel Firman Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio Riserva 2022

Sourced from vineyards at the base of the Italian Alps in the Trentino DOC, this is prime territory for fine...
Oxford Landing Regenerate Shiraz

Oxford Landing Regenerate Shiraz 2023

Crimson purple in colour, this Riverland Shiraz is the pick of the range for me. Attractive aromatics, we have plums,...
Oxford Landing Regenerate Pinot Grigio

Oxford Landing Regenerate Pinot Grigio 2024

After a wild fermentation, this Riverland Pinot Grigio was left on lees and stirred regularly for three months. A very...
msv artisan cabernet sauvignon

Murray Street Vineyards Artisan Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Warm climate Cabernet from a cracking vintage here, 93% of the fruit hails from the Greenock Estate with the remainder...
msv artisan shiraz

Murray Street Vineyards Artisan Shiraz 2021

The fruit here exhibits sub-regional characters from Gomersal and Greenock, with 85% of the fruit from the latter. There is...
msv artisan cabernet shiraz

Murray Street Vineyards Artisan Cabernet Shiraz 2021

The great Aussie red blend from a superb vintage, the split here is 65% Cabernet and 35% Shiraz. The source...
msv artisan grenache mataro shiraz

Murray Street Vineyards Artisan Grenache Mataro Shiraz 2021

The famous Rhone blend done Barossa style. The fruit is sourced from three blocks of Grenache, the oldest dating back...
NV Voices of Angles white no vintage

Charles Melton Voices of Angels Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2021

My understanding is that the name here dates back to a Springsteen concert in Adelaide quite a few years ago...
BHWshiraz

Bec Hardy Family Crest Shiraz 2022

South Aussie Shiraz which spent eight months maturing in older French oak hogsheads. Under Diam, as are all in this...
FamilyCrest RedBlend Bottleshot

Bec Hardy Family Crest Reserve Red Blend 2022

The colour here is a deep blood red. Much bolder in flavours and aromas than many, with a core of...
BHWcabsauv

Bec Hardy Family Crest Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

A static stainless fermenter was used here, with the grapes spending nine days on skins, for those who enjoy the...
charley bv shiraz

Chateau Yaldara Charley Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021

Barossa Shiraz from a cracking vintage, under cork. This is seriously impressive now but has real potential to improve even...
Charley

Chateau Yaldara Charley Shiraz 2021

A gleaming dark cherry hue for this pleasing Shiraz from McLaren Vale and other regions around South Australia. From an...
charley sh cab

Chateau Yaldara Shiraz Cabernet 2021

Currency Creek in South Australia is the source for this famous Aussie blend, which has been bottled under cork. An...
charley cab merlot

Chateau Yaldara Cabernet Merlot 2022

A South Australian blend which is bottled under cork. Garnet hue, the nose exhibits a rather alluring hint of funk,...
Chateau Yaldara Charley Shiraz sa

Chateau Yaldara Charley South Australia Shiraz 2022

Cracking value South Aussie Shiraz. Under cork, which is a little curious, but presumably it sees overseas markets. A crimson...
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon Bottle Shot

Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A fascinating wine which offers all the amazing qualities that Margaret River Cabernet possesses, but it walks the fine line...
CWCo BV Shiraz

Curator Wines Barossa Shiraz 2022

First up, put this wine at the top of your bargain buys list. Cracking value. It hails from five plots...

Stories

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...

Duval on Grenache

The name, Duval, is and always will be inextricably linked with Grange. John Duval was chief winemaker at Penfold’s from...
winepilot