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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.
Usual Suspects Vickery Eden Valley Mason Woodcarvers Vineyard Riesling low res

Vickery Eden Valley Woodcarver’s Vineyard Riesling 2021

Whether 2021 is the finest vintage of the last decade in the region is something that will inevitably be the...
sjr blood and courage reserve shiraz

St John’s Road Reserve Blood and Courage Barossa Shiraz 2020

For their Reserve, the team select the best eight barrels of Shiraz from the vintage. The wine spent eighteen months...
Lake Doctor Shiraz

Zonte’s Footsteps Lake Doctor Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

So many fabulous reds from Langhorne Creek sneak under the radar and this is yet another, although previous vintages have...
Blackberry Patch

Zonte’s Footsteps Blackberry Patch Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

No one is coming here seeking a Bordeaux-like clone of Cabernet, all structure and school prefect. They want flavour. Endless...
Shades of Grigio

Zonte’s Footsteps Shades of Grigio Pinot Grigio 2024

The labels from these guys are sometimes as much fun as their wines, and this wine does impress. The colour...
Castle Rock Estate Riesling

Castle Rock Estate Riesling 2024

This is a stunning Riesling and amazing value. It might sound like the proverbial broken record but anyone claiming to...
Castle Rock Estate Skywalk Riesling

Castle Rock Skywalk Riesling 2024

Rob Diletti is obviously having fun playing around with various styles of Riesling. This one, which is good value, is...
Castle Rock Estate RS Riesling

Castle Rock RS21 Riesling 2024

The name refers to the level of natural residual sweetness which Rob has left in the wine, balancing it with...
Castle Rock Estate Diletti Riesling

Castle Rock Diletti Riesling 2023

Another example of a winemaker playing with his food. Rob has fermented and matured, over ten months on lees, the...
Castle Rock Estate AW Riesling

Castle Rock A&W 2024

This is Rob’s annual tribute to his parents, Angelo and Wendy, who founded the estate. The fruit comes from the...
Hilltops Riesling

Gundog Estate Hilltops Riesling 2024

From the Hilltops region in New South Wales, the team use only the first press of 500 litres/tonne, before fermentation....
Hilltops Shiraz No

Gundog Estate Hilltops Shiraz  No 2 2023

The second Hilltops Shiraz made by the team hails from a vineyard in Boorowa, which is even cooler. The winemaking...
Hilltops Shiraz No

Gundog Estate Hilltops Shiraz No 1 2023

Interesting that a winery based in one of the warmer wine regions on the planet has such a fascination with...
Rare Game Shiraz

Gundog Estate Rare Game Shiraz 2023

This is the team’s flagship Hunter red and it continues to have as its inspiration, Hunter Burgundy. Younger wine lovers...
Shiraz

Gundog Estate Canberra District Shiraz 2023

It is not unfair to suggest that if anyone mentions Shiraz and the Canberra region that Clonakilla immediately springs to...
Flintlock Shiraz

Gundog Estate Flintlock Game Shiraz 2023

This is the Hilltops prestige release from the team, a superb cool climate red. It is a blend of the...
Marksman's Shiraz

Gundog Estate Marksman’s Game Shiraz 2023

If anyone needed convincing that exciting things are happening in Canberra (I speak only of wine, of course), aside from...
Rose

Gundog Estate Rosé 2024

The team have taken a multi-regional approach for this delicious Rosé, sourcing Cabernet Sauvignon from the Canberra district and Shiraz...
Reschke Bull Trader Merlot Mockup

Reschke Bull Trader Merlot 2024

A dark maroon hue for this fine Coonawarra Merlot. Notes of plums, a mix of red and black fruits, dried...
CapeBarren RareBird Shiraz

Cape Barren Wines Rare Bird Shiraz 2020

Each batch of fruit from McLaren Vale spent fifteen days on skins before fermentation in a mix of tank and...
DevittMoore WP CW CabSav

Devitt Moore CW Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

The fruit here, from a stellar vintage, comes from a single vineyard of terra rossa soil in Coonawarra. Maturation was...
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Angas King McLaren Vale Shiraz 2016

The mirror image of our Clare Shiraz, this is an opaque maroon hue. There is also evidence of oak here...
AKClareValleyShirazA

Angas King Clare Valley Shiraz 2016

Always a fascinating experience to compare and contrast wines – same grape/s, same maker, same vintage, same oak regime, same...
Bottle Image Galante Pinot Grigio

Galante Pinot Grigio 2023

Italian Pinot Grigio remains as popular as ever and it is easy to see why with crowd pleasers like this....

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...
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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...
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