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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.
Pirramimma The Earl Shiraz

Pirramimma The Earl Shiraz 2021

Another example of the superb 2021 vintage, for this, the team’s flagship red. The name comes from 1633, when Charles...
Pirramimma Cabernet Sauvignon

Pirramimma Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

While 2021 was a stunning vintage in McLaren Vale, 2022 is very much a match in terms of quality –...
Pirramimma GSM

Pirramimma Heritage GSM 2021

Another fine wine from that stellar 2021 vintage, this is the famous Rhône blend done in McLaren Vale. Deep mauve,...
Pirramimma Chardonnay

Pirramimma Heritage Chardonnay 2024

The Heritage tag dates back to the 13th century and the early days of the family history. It is early...
Golden Horseshoe Chardonnay

Brown Hill Golden Horseshoe Reserve Chardonnay 2023

This fine Marg River Chardy underwent full barrel fermentation. A gleaming pale gold hue, the nose exhibits an array of...
Trafalgar

Brown Hill Trafalgar Cabernet Merlot 2022

A Cabernet dominant blend with Merlot, all from Margaret River, which sees the individual components treated separately before the final...
Bill Bailey Shiraz Cabernet

Brown Hill Bill Bailey Shiraz Cabernet 2022

Whilst this West Aussie version of the great Aussie blend apparently appeared on a TV show which has someone called...
Fimiston Shiraz

Brown Hill Fimiston Reserve Shiraz 2022

Margaret River Shiraz remains one of our most underrated styles. Its problem stems largely from the fact that varieties like...
Great Boulder Cabernet Shiraz Merlot Malbec

Brown Hill Great Boulder Cabernet Shiraz Merlot Malbec 2022

A bit of a fruit salad style with numerous varieties included in this blend, but it works. A crimson garnet...
NV Georgie May Chardonnay

Geoff Merrill Georgie May Chardonnay 2023

Named after Geoff’s eldest daughter, this is a lovely Chardy, just redolent of fruit flavours. A pale lemon hue, there...
gm reserve chardonnay nv

Geoff Merrill Reserve Chardonnay 2022

The blend here is 53% McLaren Vale fruit, with the remaining 47% from Coonawarra. It is a barrel selection from...
Hatch Vesey Shiraz Front Cropped

Hatch Vesey Shiraz 2023

Alf Vesey worked at Penfolds for almost half a century, including for a time as their Master Winemaker, during which...
Hatch Watervale Riesling Front Cropped

Hatch Watervale Riesling 2024

Clare Valley Riesling, here from the Watervale sub-region, is one of the great gems of the Aussie wine treasure chest....
Hatch Flaxmans Riesling Front Cropped

Hatch Flaxman Valley Riesling 2024

A classic Eden Valley Riesling, from a great year, and in particular, the Flaxman Valley sub-region. A very pale lemon...
Hatch St Johns Shiraz Front Cropped

Hatch Lyndoch Shiraz 2023

The colour here is a dense maroon purple. A quintessential Barossa Shiraz with a nose of chocolate, plums, cassis, mocha,...
RISKY MALBEC V

Risky Business Malbec 2023

Solo Malbec is always interesting and this example, dominated by fruit from Margaret River, is not only most appealing but...
vin hm rose v NV TRANS

Vinaceous Margaret River Rosé 2024

The team like to keep the making of this wine in the style of as much minimal intervention as they...
risky pinot rose v NV TRANS

Risky Business Pinot Noir Rosé 2024

From West Aussie Pinot Noir, often with a good contribution from Mt Barker, this is pale pink in hue. The...
VIN VOODOO MALBEC DOM V NV

Vinaceous Voodoo Moon Malbec 2023

Always great names and fabulous labels from these guys, not to mention cracking value wines. This is an almost equal...
Stonefish Chardonnay

Stonefish Single Vineyard Margaret River Chardonnay 2024

Bargain priced Marg River Chardy is not to be dismissed easily. One may wonder why the marketing team chose one...
LVR Chardonnay

Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Padthaway Chardonnay 2024

An elegant style of Chardonnay from the Padthaway region, this is a deep yellow in colour. The nose exhibits notes...
Stonefish Cabernet

Stonefish Single Vineyard Margaret River Cabernet 2021

The Stonefish range continues to offer delicious drinking and cracking value. Crimson purple in colour, with gentle but well handled...
Empyrean Cabernet

Reschke Empyrean Coonawarra Cabernet 2018

From a single vineyard in Coonawarra, this fine Cabernet has the benefit of both being from a wonderful vintage and...
Dona GSM

Ulithorne Dona GSM 2020

From McLaren Vale, this famous Rhône blend is nearly equal parts of the trio of grapes – 35% Grenache, 33%...

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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