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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 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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Curator Marananga Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

This wine sees only French oak hogsheads, around half of them new, for a year and a half. A fine...
CWCo BV Shiraz

Curator Barossa Valley Shiraz 2023

The fruit here is sourced from a range of plots from the estate Marananga vineyard. There are 10% whole bunches...
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Curator Seppeltsfield Vineyard Shiraz 2023

Always a superstar from the range, the Seppeltsfield vineyard which provided the fruit here was planted in the mid-1950s. A...
curator marananga vineyard bv shiraz nv

Curator Marananga Vineyard Shiraz 2023

From a range of plots in their estate Marananga vineyard, fermentation includes a small portion of whole bunches. Under Diam,...

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...
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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...
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