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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.
Churchview Limited Release ShirazV

Churchview Limited Release Shiraz Viognier 2022

Organic certification is a theme throughout the offerings from this winery. This is their version of the famous Rhone blend...
Churchview Limited Release ShirazV

Churchview Limited Release Shiraz Viognier 2024

An excellent value example of this Rhone, specifically Cote Rotie, blend from Margaret River. Deep purple with a blue haze,...
Churchview Limited Release GSM

Churchview Limited Release Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2023

The famous Rhône blend might be a style that rarely ventures outside regions such as McLaren Vale and the Barossa...
Cape Landing Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Cape Landing Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

This rather exciting Margaret River Cabernet spends almost a year maturing in French oak. Deep maroon in colour, we have...
RESERVE SHIRAZ

Geoff Merrill Reserve Shiraz 2017

Like many of the wines in the Merrill stable this is very good value. A barrel selection, the winners are...
GEORGIE MAY CHARDONNAY

Geoff Merrill Georgie May Chardonnay 2024

It would be fair to say that when looking at McLaren Vale Chardonnay, we are not expecting anything to challenge...
RESERVE CHARDONNAY

Geoff Merrill Reserve Chardonnay 2023

The team undergo a strict blind tasting of all their Chardonnay to select the best barrels from both McLaren Vale...
CHARLEY ROSE GRENACHE ROSE

Geoff Merrill Charley Grenache Rosé 2025

This is Grenache showing off its versatility yet again. Named after Geoff Merrill’s youngest daughter, the team avoided the use...
GW CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Geoff Merrill G&W Coonawarra McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Whatever one thinks of the wines made by Geoff Merrill (hopefully, good things), there is one thing that he and...
JACKOS SHIRAZ

Geoff Merrill Jacko’s McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018

This wine is a tribute to a young cellar hand who worked with the team before sadly passing far too...
RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Geoff Merrill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

This is very good buying. Warm climate Cabernet just shouldn’t be this thrilling, although Coonawarra does play a significant role....
grand barossa cabernet

Château Tanunda Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

The grapes sourced for this delicious warm climate Cabernet Sauvignon come from throughout the Barossa region. Maturation is usually in...
Château Tanunda Grand Barossa Shiraz

Château Tanunda Grand Barossa Shiraz 2024

A definite contender for best value of the year, this is compelling evidence that one can drink extremely well, wines...

Château Tanunda Grand Barossa Chardonnay 2025

A fresh and flavourful style of Chardonnay from the Barossa which does see a small percentage of the harvest fermented...
Pirramimma Heritage GSM ()

Pirramimma Heritage GSM 2022

An utterly compelling Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre from an excellent vintage in McLaren Vale, this is a deep maroon/purple in colour....
Pirramimma Constance Shiraz

Pirramimma Constance Shiraz 2022

An utterly entrancing McLaren Vale Shiraz, this is a seriously good wine. Exhibiting an opaque maroon hue, this is still...
Pirramimma Border Clan Shiraz

Pirramimma Border Clan Shiraz 2023

Inky dark maroon in colour, the nose reveals a delightful roast meats, charcuterie character, which is supported by aromas of...
Pirramimma Border Clan Cabernet Sauvignon

Pirramimma Border Clan Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Deep ruby/maroon in colour, this is exciting stuff. From an excellent vintage in McLaren Vale, the wine has impressive oak...
Pirramimma Heritage Shiraz

Pirramimma Heritage Shiraz 2023

The colour here is a gleaming purple magenta. The nose gives us notes of truffles and tobacco leaves, coffee grinds,...
Pirramimma Trademark Shiraz

Pirramimma Trademark Shiraz 2023

A really exciting McLaren Vale red, this has a dark red/bruised plum hue. There is obviously very good integration of...
Altus Rise Ascension Cabernet Sauvignon

Altus/Rise Ascension Cabernet 2023

Years ago, I remember the wife of a famous Burgundian winemaker telling me that a particular vintage was so good...
Altus Rise Ascension Shiraz

Altus/Rise Ascension Shiraz 2024

The fruit used for this fine Margaret River Shiraz was destemmed for fermentation and the whole berries were allowed a...
Altus Rise Ascension Chardonnay

Altus/Rise Ascension Chardonnay 2025

This compelling Margaret River Chardonnay spent around four months maturing in French oak. The colour is a shimmering lemon, and...
Altus Rise Wildlight Chardonnay

Altus/Rise Wildlight Chardonnay 2025

A fresh and energetic Margaret River Chardonnay which is good buying. The wine spent eight months on yeast lees in...

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...
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...

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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