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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.
Winemakers Shiraz

Thorn Clarke William Randell Winemaker’s Small Batch Selection Barossa Shiraz 2021

It may sound like the proverbial broken record, but anyone who has not overstocked their cellar with the superb wines...
Lady William Randell Shiraz nv

Thorn Clarke Lady William Randell Barossa Shiraz 2020

Barossa Shiraz which has spent considerable time both maturing and in bottle in the cellar. Under cork. Dark maroon, this...
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Pirathon Clare Valley Riesling 2025

A classic Clare Valley Riesling with fruit from the Gaelic Cemetery Vineyard, situated in the northwest of the region. Yellow/green...
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Pirathon Barossa Valley Grenache Rosé 2025

From vineyards in the Tanunda sub-region of the Barossa, this is yet more evidence as to the versatility of Grenache....
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Pirathon Barossa Valley GSM 2024

This is the first GSM blend which the team have released under the Contour label. It is from fruit harvested...
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Pirathon Blue Label Barossa Valley Shiraz 2022

From the excellent 2022 vintage, the fruit hails from the Barossa Valley floor. Maturation was in a mix of French...
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Pirathon Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2022

This version of the famous Aussie red blend of Cab and Shiraz sees a blend of 55% Clare Valley Cabernet...
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Pirathon Gaelic Cemetery Celtic Farm Clare Valley Riesling 2025

Terrific value Clare Valley Riesling from a vintage which is shaping up as another excellent one. This wine tends to...
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Elderton Barossa Valley GSM 2025

This Barossa blend includes 46% Grenache, 27% Shiraz, 26% Mataro and just 1% of Carignan. It is the 10th release...
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Elderton Eden Valley Chardonnay 2025

The fruit for this 17th release of the Elderton Chardonnay is mostly from the Craneford Vineyard in the Eden Valley,...
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Small Victories Pinot Gris 2025

For this vintage, the team sourced fruit from the Fleurieu Peninsula, a new direction for them. Fermentation was in stainless...
Elderton Small Victories Grenache Mataro Rose NV low res

Small Victories Rosé 2025

A thoroughly delicious Rosé, with all of the fruit sourced from the family’s Greenock Vineyard in the Barossa Valley. It...
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Elderton Eden Valley Riesling 2025

A most impressive Eden Valley Riesling from what is turning out to be a more impressive vintage than some may...
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Elderton Barossa Valley Merlot 2024

The family vineyard in the Nuriootpa sub-region of the Barossa Valley has a small block of Merlot within it. Since...
The Château Single Vineyard Shiraz

Château Tanunda The Château BV Shiraz 2024

The fruit here is sourced from the twelve-hectare Vine Vale Vineyard, which was planted in 1960. Grapes are destemmed and...
The Château Single Vineyard Grenache

Château Tanunda The Château BV Grenache Single Vineyard 2024

The team source fruit from a vineyard close to the Château for this single vineyard Barossa Grenache. They employed partial...
Grand Barossa GSM

Château Tanunda Grand Barossa GSM 2025

A cracking value Barossa blend which would more than exceed expectations at your next gourmet BBQ with good friends. Grenache...
Year Old Vines Grenache

Château Tanunda 150-Year-Old Grenache 2022

A bucket list wine, surely. The fruit here comes from some of the oldest Grenache in the world, originally planted...
The Everest Shiraz

Château Tanunda The Everest Barossa Shiraz 2023

This is the Estate’s flagship red. Just 400 bottles made. Under cork. The wine will spend around a year and...
Heritage Old Vine Shiraz

Château Tanunda Heritage Release Barossa Old Vine Shiraz 2024

All fruit sourced for this Barossa Shiraz must be from vines which are at least 35 years in age. Inky...
The Everest Shiraz NV

Château Tanunda The Everest Barossa Shiraz 2022

It may raise a few eyebrows to suggest this, when the winery can offer options like their 150 Year Old...

Château Tanunda 150-Year-Old Vines Shiraz 2022

Needless to say, wines of this age are incredibly rare anywhere, not just in the Barossa Valley. This is a...
Year Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Château Tanunda 50-Year-Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

We tend to think of the Barossa Valley as overflowing with ancient, gnarly old vines, but in truth, they are...
Year Old Vines Shiraz NV

Château Tanunda 50-Year-Old Vines Shiraz 2023

The vineyards, situated in the Vine Vale sub-region of the Barossa, which provided the grapes for this delicious old vine...

Stories

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...
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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...
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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...
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