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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.
Understudy

Bec Hardy Pertaringa Understudy Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale 2022

The vineyards which provided the fruit for this terrific McLaren Vale Cabernet include the Klavenick vineyard and, perhaps more interestingly,...
BH SparkNV

Bec Hardy Sparkling NV

A blend of 63% Chardonnay and 37% Pinot Noir from McLaren Vale, the Chardonnay comes from their Lower Tintara Vineyard...
BH Barossa Cab Sauv Website

Bec Hardy Garden Series Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Valley 2021

Delicious warm climate Cab, proving such a thing is most definitely possible. The colour here is a deep maroon. There...
Iron Fire Tempranillo

Watkins Iron-Fire Tempranillo 2021

Of this trio of Watkins wines, this delicious Tempranillo is my personal favourite. A dark maroon hue, the nose gives...
Grenache Rose

Watkins Grenache Rosé 2023

From Langhorne Creek, the colour here is a burnt sienna/orange. The nose exudes fresh florals, spices, raspberries and cherries. A...
Ruscello Sangiovese

Watkins Ruscello Sangiovese 2022

Cold soaking after harvest and then two weeks on skins with eight months maturation. The fruit is from the Langhorne...
Tapanappa WhaleboneVineyard MerlotCabFranc

Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Everything about this wine suggests it is one for the long haul. Both the Merlot and Cabernet Franc come from...
Tapanappa WhaleboneVineyard CabShiraz

Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Wrattonbully Cabernet Shiraz 2019

A warm and dry vintage for the region in 2019, which helped ensure that the Whalebone Vineyard, planted 45 years...
PPE PIN Estate BLN NV MED TN

Port Phillip Estate Pinot Noir Balnarring 2023

From the Balnarring Vineyard, planted in 1997, fermentation was in stainless steel and large format oak, followed by eleven months...
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Sordo Gioso Langhe Nebbiolo 2021

Anyone who enjoys delicious Piedmont reds will surely be familiar with the family operation of Sordo (I say family, but...
Wild Folk Prosecco NS V()

Wild Folk Natural Prosecco NV

Prosecco from the King Valley in Victoria, this is pale and a very faded yellow. The wine opens with an...
HARE & TORTOISE ROSE NV NS()

Hare and Tortoise Rosé 2022

This is an intriguing style of Rosé from Victoria, a blend of Sangiovese, Mataro and Merlot, which was pressed off...
Elderton Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon NV transparent background xpx copy

Elderton Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

This block of Cabernet was originally planted in the 1940s. It looked a bit grim when the plan was to...
Elderton Command Shiraz NV transparent background square

Elderton Command Shiraz 2021

My first thought on tasting this wine was simply, wow, this might just be the very best Command Shiraz I...

Twinwoods Single Vineyard Margaret River Shiraz 2017

From the Wilyabrup sub-region in the acclaimed Margaret River, this is a dark maroon hue. The nose gives aromas of...
JKW CYME OV Grenache

Cyme Barossa Centenarian Vine Grenache 2023

Just 100 cases of this really exciting Barossa Grenache made. There was 20% whole bunch fermentation and 48 days extended...
Basileus Grenache

Basileus Barossa Valley Grenache 2020

Apparently Basileus is Greek for Kings, or so it was once. And of course, the Barossa is the King of...
Basileus Reisling NV

Basileus Clare Riesling 2023

Free run juice used here with a temperature controlled fermentation and the colour is a pale lemon with green flecks....
Basileus Shiraz Med

Basileus Barossa Valley Shiraz 2020

A thoroughly appealing Barossa Shiraz which will provide pleasure for the rest of the decade and a little more. Destemming...
Jilyara Williams' Block Cabernet Sauvignon

Jilyara The Williams’ Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

From the famed Wilyabrup sub-region, this is a superb example of what can be achieved here. Always fun to listen...
Jilyara Williams' Block Chardonnay

Jilyara The Williams’ Block Chardonnay 2022

Is it possible to get enough Marg River Chardonnay?  Seeing wines like this, I don’t think so. A very pale...
Driftwood Single Site Chardonnay

Driftwood Chardonnay Margaret River 2021

A single site Margaret River Chardonnay, showing just how brilliant the combination of region and grape can be. The wine...
Driftwood Single Site Cab Sauv

Driftwood Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River 2022

As exciting as the Chardonnay is, this is even more so. A single site wine, the colour is a deep...
Driftwood Single Site Cab Sauv

Driftwood Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River 2021

Again, a single site wine. There is a dark magenta hue. The nose offers notes of spices, herbs, raspberries and...

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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