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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.
First Ridge Fiano

First Ridge Fiano 2024

Fiano continues to make an impression – a good one – seemingly wherever it is grown in this country. An...
SWC Reserve PinotNoir NV

Slow Wine Co Reserve Pinot Noir 2021

A fine Pinot Noir from Orange, this is a pale ochre hue. The nose offers aromas of dried herbs, mushrooms,...
Mayfield ThreeBoys CabernetBlend NV

Mayfield Vineyard Three Boys Cabernet Blend 2023

A Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend here (75%), supported by 15% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, from the Orange region. After...
Riposte Katana Chard NEW NV

Riposte The Katana Chardonnay 2023

Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, fermentation is usually in French oak barriques with a percentage new. A portion of the juice is...
Riposte Stiletto PG NEW NV

Riposte The Stiletto Pinot Gris 2024

From the Adelaide Hills, the team usually include some pressings here and ferment part of the free run juice in...
Riposte Scimitar Riesling NEW NV

Riposte The Scimitar Riesling 2024

A fine single vineyard from an excellent vintage in the Clare Valley. For those convinced that every year gets hyped...
shiraz viog

Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2023

Put simply, this is one of Australia’s greatest wines, year after year, and one of only a handful that can...
riesling

Clonakilla Riesling 2024

When the critics get excited about Aussie Riesling, they so often neglect the gems coming from the Canberra district. A...
o'riadashiraz

Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz 2023

Cool climate Shiraz from the Canberra district, the wine is a tribute to an Irish hero, Sean O’Riada, a musician...
Cape Barren InFlight Cabernet

Cape Barren Inflight McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

A warm climate Cabernet with a good few years under its belt shows that this variety can do very well...
Cape Barren OldCoach Shiraz

Cape Barren Old Coach Road McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021

The fruit for this richly flavoured McLaren Vale Shiraz comes from a single vineyard, with vines in excess of 35...
Ulithorne Singularis Shiraz

Ulithorne Singularis McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019

The name sounds more like something that Captain Kirk might be talking about on Star Trek than a fine McLaren...
Reschke Merlot LC

Reschke Merlot 2024

An appealing Merlot from the Limestone Coast, there is a hint of oak here, but it is understated and well...
Schoolhouse BlockA Shiraz

Schoolhouse Block A2 Coonawarra Shiraz 2021

A very fine Shiraz from Coonawarra, from an excellent vintage, this is a near opaque maroon in colour. The nose...
MagareyLane CW Shiraz

Magarey Lane Coonawarra Shiraz 2022

From a single vineyard in Coonawarra, and a top vintage, the colour here is a near black hue. It is...
Cape Barren InFlight ShirazGren

Cape Barren Inflight McLaren Vale Shiraz Grenache 2022

From a superb McLaren Vale vintage, this blend is a cracker. An inky dark purple hue, the nose gives us...
WatervaleNV

O’Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2024

From a pair of Clare Riesling masters, comes a masterful pair of Clare Rieslings. This Watervale Riesling is simply superb....
PolishNV

O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling 2024

The twin to the Watervale, this Polish Hill River Riesling, from the same stellar vintage, is spectacular stuff and brilliant...
Yalumba Vat Grenache

Yalumba Vat 11 Grenache 2023

The fruit for this wine was sourced from a single, dry grown vineyard in the famed Marananga sub-region of the...
Blackwell

St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2021

Stuart Blackwell is one of the Barossa’s most popular winemakers and has been seen as the face of St Hallett...
Old Block

St Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2019

This label was one of the earlier Barossa elites and an absolute favourite. Hard to imagine just how much was...
Leasingham Bin

Leasingham Bin 61 Clare Valley Shiraz 2021

More mature wine lovers will no doubt have fond memories of this famous label. Leasingham has been making stellar Clare...
Higher Earth

St Hallett Higher Earth Syrah Eden Valley 2021

This is the St Hallett take on Eden Valley Shiraz/Syrah, and what a terrific wine it is. A Shiraz of...
Yalumba The Tri Centenary Grenache NV

Yalumba The Tri-Centenary Grenache Ancestor Vines 2022

One of this country’s most famous and finest Grenache continues its stellar form with this latest release. Stonkingly good. The...

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...
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...
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