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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.
WT Cirillo Black Label Barossa Valley Shiraz

Cirillo Black Label Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024

The vines offering fruit for this cracking Barossa Shiraz were planted back in 1848, making them some of the oldest...
WT Heirloom Vineyards King's Garden Barossa Valley Shiraz

Heirloom Vineyards King’s Garden Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021

Barossa Shiraz will surely remain eternally popular thanks to wines like this. From a spectacular vintage for the region, this...
WT Thorn Clarke William Randell Winemakers Selection Shiraz

Thorn-Clarke William Randell Shiraz 2019

This cracking Barossa Shiraz was named in honour of a family ancestor, Captain William Richard Randell. Always good to see...
WT Champagne Autreau Brut Reserve Grand Cru NV

Champagne Autréau Brut Grand Cru Reserve NV

A blend of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards promises some bubbly excitement. The colour is a...
WT Robert Goulley Chablis er Cru Vaucoupin

Robert Goulley Chablis Premier Cru Vaucoupin 2023

The Robert Goulley Chablis range is part of the Domaine Gueguen empire, based in the region. Premier Cru Chablis is...
WT Robert Goulley Chablis er Cru 'Vaillons'

Robert Goulley Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2023

Anyone keen to see what excellent Chablis offers need look no further. Vaillons is one of the legendary Premier crus...
WT Amen Break Central Otago Pinot Noir

Amen Break Central Otago Pinot Noir 2023

Top notch Central Otago Pinot Noir for this price is a rarity indeed – good luck finding better for the...
WT Domaine Chavy Chouet Bourgogne Rouge La Taupe

Domaine Chavy Chouet Bourgogne Rouge La Taupe 2022

There was a time when one would approach Bourgogne Rouge with the greatest trepidation. Thankfully, those days are long gone....
WT Pelassa San Pancrazio Barbera d'Alba Superiore DOC

Pelassa San Pancrazio Barbera d’Alba 2021

A friend once told me that not liking Barbera was like not liking puppies. He had a point. Good Barbera...
WT Mas Doix Les Crestes Grenache Blend

Mas Doix Les Crestes Priorat 2022

A visit to Priorat in Spain’s northeast should be on every wine lover’s bucket list. Spectacular scenery, wonderful food, great...
WT Bass Line Barossa Valley GSM

Bass Line Barossa Valley GSM 2023

These days, the old Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre blend is as much a part of the Barossa landscape as it is...
WT Domaine Rossignol Trapet Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes

Domaine Rossignol Trapet Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2022

A great vintage, a famous location, some highly respected names at the producer and old vines (an average of 60...
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Ben Glaetzer Amon-Ra Barossa Valley Shiraz 2022

This is truly an iconic wine and a Barossa classic. Again, from the highly regarded Ebenezer sub-region, with the vines...
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Ben Glaetzer Anaperenna Barossa Valley Shiraz Cabernet 2022

The great Aussie red blend from a top year and a producer nearing cult status. This is heavily Shiraz dominant...
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Elderton Command Shiraz 2022

I’ve been looking forward to this wine, ever since I tasted the previous vintage – both are superb Barossa years....
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Elderton Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Year in, year out, this is always one of the Barossa’s most exciting Cabernets and this latest release is no...
BiscayRoad Riesling NV()

Biscay Road Barossa Valley Riesling 2025

An attractively packaged and obviously very youthful Riesling. Early signs are that 2025 is another very fine vintage for the...
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Stonehouse Neldner Vineyard Old Vines Shiraz 2023

The vines providing the fruit for this Barossa gem are from the Neldner Family Contour Vineyard, which was planted back...
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Lone Palm Vineyard Selection Barossa Valley Shiraz 2023

This is the icon of the range from this team – I had not realised that when tasting but there...

Lone Palm Hillside Barossa Valley Shiraz 2023

The fruit used here comes from the heart of the Barossa Valley, a west-facing hillside vineyard in the Marananga sub-region....
CWCo BV Cabernet Sauvignon

Curator Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Time spent in French oak barrels, 15% of which were new, has helped mould a fine, warm climate Cabernet which...
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Curator Barossa Valley Grenache 2024

The vines which provided the fruit for this superb Barossa Grenache come from a Seppeltsfield vineyard, planted in the early...
cwc ev riesling nv

Curator Eden Valley Riesling 2024

A single site Riesling, from the Flaxman’s Valley vineyard in the Eden Valley, from a vintage which really is proving...
cwc hamlets rosé nv lowres

Curator Hamlets Rosé 2024

A seriously good Rosé from Montepulciano with a dribble of barrel-fermented Grenache (a dribble being the technical term for around...

Stories

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...

Alkina – The Curious Box of Paradoxes

Alkina is a curious box of paradoxes. Seemingly unlimited resources but still tiny; a small local operation yet part of...

Cumulus and Quilty & Gransden

They say that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. Perhaps, but I would suggest that the Australian wine industry...

Greenock Creek New Releases 2021

It was back in 1984 that the first grapes were picked for the inaugural vintage from Greenock Creek wines. Taken...
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