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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.
mw kinsfolk shiraz

Mitchell Kinsfolk Riesling 2025

A small batch Clare Valley Riesling, from Penwortham (the village founded by John Horricks, the man credited with establishing the...
mw kinsfolk shiraz

Mitchell Kinsfolk Shiraz 2022

From the Skilly Hills sub-region of the Clare Valley, the colour here is a dark purple/maroon. The nose offers aromas...
mw kinsfolk pinot grigio

Mitchell Kinsfolk Pinot Grigio 2025

Also from Penwortham in the Clare Valley, the appearance of this wine is very much like a gentle Rosé, with...
Estate Riesling

Millon Estate Riesling 2023

The team use only free run juice for this very fine Clare Riesling with the fruit hand-picked and then whole...
Impressionist rose

Millon The Impressionist Pinot Noir Rosé 2024

The colour is a touch deceptive with its attractive orange/pink notes, even if it is a little fiery. It gives...
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Millon The Impressionist Shiraz 2022

Eden Valley Shiraz, more specifically from the Pewsey Vale sub-region, from an excellent vintage, this is dark maroon in colour....
Estate cabernet Sauvignon

Millon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

This enticing Cabernet Sauvignon is made from Eden Valley fruit, from the wonderful 2021 vintage. Opaque maroon in hue, the...
Clare's Secret Cabernet Sauvignon

Millon Clare’s Secret Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A single vineyard wine, from the estate’s Armagh Vineyard in the Clare Valley, the vines were planted in 1998. This...
Estate Riesling

Millon Estate Riesling 2022

From an exceptional vintage for the Clare Valley, the team hand pick the fruit which is then whole bunch pressed...
Clare's Secret Grenache

Millon Clare’s Secret Grenache 2023

The vines which provide the fruit for this intriguing Grenache were planted on the estate’s Armagh Vineyard in the Clare...
Traditionale Riesling Small File Size

Pikes Traditionale Riesling 2025

One of Australia’s most reliable wines, always good value and always brilliant quality. This is the 41st release of this...
The Merle Riesling Small File Size

Pikes The Merle Riesling 2025

The flagship Riesling from the team comes from the estate vineyard in the Polish Hill River sub-region in the Clare...
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Pikes Homage Cabernet Malbec 2023

The blend here is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Malbec, from two small blocks in the Clare Valley which were...
Eastside Shiraz Small File Size

Pikes Eastside Shiraz 2023

We tend to think of Pikes Rieslings as the wines from their portfolio which offer truly stellar value, for good...
DOMESTIC DH Shiraz NV

Three Dark Horses Shiraz 2023

McLaren Vale Shiraz from the highly regarded Blewitt Springs sub-region, the vines are aged anywhere between twenty and fifty years....
DOMESTIC DH Grenache Touriga NV

Three Dark Horses Grenache Touriga 2024

Very much the international blend here, with 70% Grenache, the variety originally hailing from Spain, although winemakers from Sardinia might...
DOMESTIC DH SGT NV

Three Dark Horses Shiraz Grenache Touriga 2022

A blend of 55% Shiraz, 25% Grenache and 20% of Portugal’s most famous variety, Touriga, the fruit here is sourced...
DOMESTIC DH Vermentino NV

Three Dark Horses Vermentino 2025

McLaren Vale Vermentino continues to prove itself a most welcome addition to the Australian wine firmament. This example is from...
K Reserve Shiraz

K1 by Geoff Hardy Reserve Shiraz 2021

The team’s Reserve release is intended to represent the absolute best Shiraz they can source from their K1 vineyard in...
K Tzimmukin ml

K1 by Geoff Hardy Tzimmukin Adelaide Hills 2017

These guys are not that well known for weird and wonderful names for their wines, nothing wrong with that, so...
K Reserve Cabernet

K1 by Geoff Hardy Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Another superb wine from the brilliant 2021 vintage. Seriously, these wines won’t be around forever and while there will be...
K adelaide hills Shiraz ml

K1 by Geoff Hardy Single Vineyard Shiraz 2019

Always pleasing to see a wine with some age on offer, especially when it is so well priced. Under Diam,...
K Reserve Chardonnay

K1 by Geoff Hardy Reserve Chardonnay 2022

The aim here is to reveal just what the very best fruit from the team’s Kuitpo Vineyard in the Adelaide...
K MiddleHill NewLabel

K1 by Geoff Hardy Middle Hill Shiraz 2022

From the Kuitpo sub-region of the Adelaide Hills, this is under Diam. It is called the Middle Hill Shiraz because...

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...
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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...

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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