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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.
Stockmans Ridge Signature Range Right Bank

Stockman’s Ridge Signature Range Right Bank 2022

 An interesting concept to offer Left and Right Bank reds from the Orange region in New South Wales. They are...
mw sevenhill vineyard cabernet sauvignon

Mitchell Sevenhill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

From a brilliant vintage for the region, this terrific Cabernet suggests that anyone ignoring how good that variety is from...
mw pinot gris

Mitchell Pinot Gris 2023

First released with the 2021 vintage, this Clare Valley Pinot Gris is made from hand-harvested fruit, which is whole bunch...
mw mcnicol cv riesling

Mitchell McNicol Riesling 2015

The McNicol name is a link to an old family name from a couple of centuries ago. Ann McNicol married...
Warramunda Estate Cabernets Blend

Warramunda Cabernets 2023

From the Coldstream sub-region of the Yarra Valley, this thoroughly enjoyable red blend is under Diam. A cherry red hue,...
Warramundan Estate LivZac Malbec

Warramunda Liv Zak Malbec 2023

Yarra Valley Malbec, not so regularly encountered as a single variety wine but intriguing to see, which spent time maturing...
Warramunda Estate LivZac Cab Sauv

Warramunda Liv Zak Cabernets Blend 2023

A blend from the Yarra Valley, this is crimson red in colour. The nose exhibits spices, red fruits, milk chocolate...
Warramunda Estate Syrah

Warramunda Syrah 2023

A very fine Syrah (Shiraz) under Diam from the Coldstream sub-region of the Yarra Valley, this wine is a deep...
Grenache Shiraz()

Crabtree Estate Watervale Grenache Shiraz 2023

The fruit here is sourced from two estate blocks – the Shiraz from a cooler one and the Grenache from...
Tempranillo Copy

Crabtree Estate Watervale Tempranillo 2023

Clare Valley Tempranillo is not common fodder, but with wines like this one, it might well become so. The team...
Woodside Vineyard Pinot Grigio

Tomich Woodside Vineyard Pinot Grigio 2023

From a single, high altitude vineyard in the Woodside sub-region of the Adelaide Hills. No oak used here, just a...
Woodside Vineyard Pinot Noir

Tomich Woodside Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

From a single vineyard in the Woodside sub-region of the Adelaide Hills, which was planted in 2001, the fermentation was...
Bottle WoodsideVineyardSauvignonBlanc

Tomich Woodside Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023

A fine Adelaide Hills Savvy from a single vineyard in the Woodside sub-region. Minimal skin contact and a long, slow,...
Woodside Vineyard Gruner Veltliner

Tomich Woodside Vineyard Grüner Veltliner 2023

Grüner seems to have found a perfect home in the Adelaide Hills and this is another gem. The vineyard, in...
Woodside Vineyard Riesling

Tomich Woodside Vineyard Riesling 2023

Another in the line-up of single vineyard, high altitude releases from the Woodside sub-region of the Adelaide Hills. This vineyard...
Bottle WoodsideVineyard Chardonnay

Tomich Woodside Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills, this one hailing from a single vineyard in the Woodside sub-region, has proved itself to...
HECHRE NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Chardonnay Reserve 2022

Whole bunch pressing, a range of yeasts including wild yeasts, barrel fermentation in a combination of new and older French...
HECHXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Chardonnay 2022

A fine Chardonnay from the Denmark sub-region in the Great Southern. Barrel fermentation takes place in a combination of new...
HEPNDM NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Pinot Noir 2023

The fruit here is sourced from a couple of vineyards, selected blocks, from the Denmark sub-region. The Harewood vineyard was...
HERSMU NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Porongurup Riesling Museum Release 2014

Always a joy to encounter an aged Riesling like this one. Pale straw in colour, despite a decade under its...
HESSXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2022

Only free run juice used here with this blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Semillon from the Denmark sub-region...
HESHRE NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Shiraz Reserve 2022

Western Australia just continues to throw up superb Shiraz and this is a cracker. Inky opaque purple hue, this is...
Hare and the Tortoise Pinot Noir

Hare and the Tortoise Pinot Noir 2023

Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley is an Aussie classic. The fruit here was destemmed and then fermented in open...
Wild Folk Natural Pinot Noir

Wild Folk Natural Pinot Noir 2023

Another Yarra Valley Pinot Noir which is very much along the natural lines – wild yeast fermentation, unfined, unfiltered, nothing...

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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