19 Crimes Wines Ranked Worst To Best
While wine and crime don't seem intrinsically linked, 19 Crimes wine has somehow bridged the gap and formed a fun connection that includes interactive content. The wine brand's labels pay homage to criminals of yesteryear ... and some more recent ones. Each bottle is branded with a criminal who was banished to Australia from England between 1788 and 1868. At the time, there were 19 crimes that could result in a criminal being sent to the island, and each is represented on one of the wine corks – an obvious bonus if you like collecting sets.
The brand seems intent on appealing to a different type of wine drinker. And with their 2019 partnership with Snoop and most recent collaboration with Martha Stewart, their message is loud and clear — 19 Crimes wine is for rule-breakers. Wine aside, customers can download an app and unlock a world of interactive content. Just hold the app up to the bottle to see it come to life and hear the main character's story. It's an interesting gimmick and works well as a party trick, but how does the wine taste?
Keep reading to see how we rate the entire line of 19 Crimes wines from worst to best.
11. Red Blend
19 Crimes Red Blend combines 86% shiraz, 7% merlot, and 7% cabernet sauvignon into what can be considered as the brand's entry-level red wine. At 14% alcohol, this is a big wine that will certainly have you feeling a little wobbly after a glass or two. The brand describes the wine as "Defiant by nature, bold in character." Perhaps 19 Crimes was too optimistic in its assessment because instead of being interesting, the red blend is a little too jammy with no distinct notes.
Reverse Wine Snob writes, "If sweeter red wines aren't your thing this probably isn't your wine." There are fruity aromas but nothing discernible enough to be able to distinguish it from a generic wine. Tannins, which typically bring some structure to a wine, aren't at all present here so the wine falls flat. Yes, it's easy to drink, but compared to the rest of the brand's portfolio, this is probably also an easy wine to skip.
10. The Banished
19 Crimes describes The Banished as a full and round red wine blend that has a "distinct sweetness making the wine rich and mouth coating." The tasting notes indicate aromas of dark chocolate and vanilla with baking spices like cinnamon and clove. If you're looking for sweetness, chances are you'll enjoy this wine because it is definitely not lacking in that department. But it may be too much of a good thing.
One ASDA reviewer writes, "Ugh! So sweet it's almost sickly. Too much jamminess, no subtlety. If you like an in your face Australian red with loads of sweet fruits and no tannins then go for it. If not, steer clear." Sweet wine can be a lot of fun to drink if it's balanced with other characteristics like acidity, which prevents the wine from feeling so heavy and cloying. But The Banished is a bit one-note in its sweetness, and since 19 Crimes makes some better wines, you should leave this one aside.
9. Snoop Dogg Cali Rosé
At first glance, Snoop's relationship to wine isn't so clear. Nonetheless, he partnered with 19 Crimes as a featured face for the brand's wine. While the rest of the 19 Crimes grapes are sourced from Australia, the Snoop wines are made from California fruit. The Cali Rosé is mainly made from zinfandel, with some grenache and pinot noir blended in for balance. This rosé has a lively pink color and around 10.5% alcohol, which makes it a pleasant and light sipping wine.
Cheap Wine Finder describes the aromas as "nectar sweet black cherry, strawberry, light watermelon, soft spice, and a little vanilla." The review adds that the wine isn't especially complex but it tastes nice. Simply put, this is a straightforward fruity wine that's pretty enjoyable for day-drinking in the summer. It might not wow you, but for a wine that delivers on some interesting fruit notes, you can't go wrong with this rosé.
8. Sauv Block
Sauv Block is 19 Crimes answer to Australian sauvignon blanc, which typically has a bright acidity along with strong gooseberry and citrus notes. So how does 19 Crimes' version stack up?
For starters, this 19 Crimes Sauv Block is oddly thick for a sauvignon blanc, which is typically a light wine. One ASDA reviewer says, "Did not enjoy this wine. Lacked crispness and zest. Tasted more like a chardonnay." Another wrote, "Tasted more like a typical overpowering Australian chardonnay, thick and loud!!" If this were supposed to be a chardonnay, it'd be a different story, but because it's lacking the finesse and lightness of a sauvignon blanc, the flavor profile is confusing!
Sauv Block is made for the US public, and according to a survey by researchers at Sonoma State University, Americans favor sweeter wines (via Forbes). Sauvignon blanc is typically made in a drier style, but this 19 Crimes version has a hint of residual sweetness. On the plus side, this wine has some nice fruit notes but overall it's lacking the crisp acidity and essence that make sauvignon blanc so enjoyable.
7. Cabernet Sauvignon
With its cabernet sauvignon, 19 Crimes is going for a full-bodied wine with a hint of sweetness that fills the mouth. The brand's tasting notes describe aromas of red currant, dark cherries, and chocolate. On paper it sounds enjoyable enough, but the truth is that the fruit in this 19 Crimes cabernet tastes like it's been stewing on a stove for hours. While it's great for a pie, firmer and riper fruit notes are generally more pleasant in wine.
Nonetheless, there's certainly a noticeable fruitiness to the wine which is one of its redeeming characteristics. However, it's hard to decipher which fruits. Cherries? Raspberries? Plums, maybe? Food and Wine Aesthetics describes the wine, writing: "Rich mocha and obvious, pumped up, sweet vanilla on the palate, a confection made worse with very low acidity and no tannins to speak of."
All in all, this wine is basically generic and sweet, and while it's not the very best that 19 Crimes has to offer, it's also not the worse. Grab a bottle and at the very least, enjoy the animation on the label.
6. Hard Chard
Hard Chard is a full-bodied chardonnay made in a typical buttery style that is typically popular with American wine drinkers. 19 Crimes describes it as having notes of "toasty oak, honey, and hints of spice" with "creamy notes of butterscotch and vanilla." And while it's not nearly as complex and dreamy as the website makes it seem, it's a perfectly drinkable chardonnay. A reviewer on Natalie Maclean's website writes that this wine is "for lovers of heavily oaked chards."
The bottle label features Jane Castings, a mother of four who was sent to Australia from England after arranging for a group of teenagers to steal cheese and bacon for her. Ironically, the stolen goods in question would pair nicely with this wine. If you pick up a bottle of Hard Chard, enjoy it with rich dishes like smoked salmon pasta or a cheese platter. We'll rate this one as a firmly middle-of-the-road chardonnay. It's more exciting than some of the other bottles in the 19 Crimes assortment, but not enough to put it any higher on the list.
5. The Punishment Pinot
Whereas some of the other 19 Crime wines are disappointing, The Punishment Pinot is a very nice change of pace. In line with what you might expect from a pinot noir, this is light-bodied and has just enough fruit, acid, and tannins to make you take a second look.
Wine Pros writes: "It is an excellent Australian variant that offers nice smoky, spicy undertones along with just the right amount of bright red cherries and strawberries." The outlet adds that the wine's soft tannins make it flexible for pairing. Follow their advice and try it with your choice of protein or even a fruit-forward dessert.
The Punishment highlights what all the other bottles of 19 Crimes wines should be — balanced, delicious, and interesting, yet still approachable for all palates. This wine is a nice display of Australian pinot noir and a fun bottle to bring to dinner with friends.
4. The Warden Red Blend
Creating a blended red wine actually takes a fair bit of skill. It's not as simple as mixing a few styles of wine and it involves adjusting a number of components to reach a balance. For example, Food & Wine explains that since cabernet sauvignon has bold tannins, winemakers often add a little merlot to tame them and make the wine smoother.
19 Crimes The Warden Red Blend is a step up from its standard red blend, and an upgrade in quality is apparent. "Its scent of blood-red cherries, boysenberries, chocolate, mocha, and vanilla bean will assault your nostrils long before its lashings of dark fruits, sweet vanillin oak, and chocolate hit your tongue," Drink Me Mag writes. It's far more interesting than some of 19 Crimes' other wines and a good starting point for anyone wondering which of the wines from the brand's selection to taste.
3. Shiraz
As a wine company with a clearly Australian sense of identity, it only makes sense that 19 Crimes would make a Shiraz. Shiraz (also known as Syrah outside of Australia) is a grape that is known for big, bold fruit flavors such as raspberry and boysenberry. In the 19 Crimes rendition, there's also a surprising level of complexity.
This is a fairly textbook style of shiraz with a deep purple color and bold tannins balanced with acidity and fruit. If you've ever been curious about trying more types of shiraz, then this bottle will give you an idea of how it typically tastes. As Sublime Imbibing explains, "It really comes together on the tongue. 19 Crimes has a luscious, rich texture about it and a body that tends to the heavy side." The outlet adds that the acidity is well balanced, and the tannins aren't overpowering, so pick up a bottle and taste for yourself.
2. Snoop Dogg Cali Red Blend
As 19 Crimes' third red blend, the Cali Red blend is perhaps the most unique. Once again, it features none other than California rapper and megastar Snoop Dogg. The wine is a blend of petite sirah, zinfandel, and merlot grapes, hailing from Lodi, California.
Honest Wine Reviews describes the wine as a "nicely balanced red blend, with notes of black cherry, vanilla, and candied raspberry." There's some residual sugar that manifests as sweetness on the tongue. It's clear that 19 crimes wanted to make an enjoyable red wine that pairs well with food. It's a simple wine but it has just enough interesting qualities — several distinct fruit notes, smooth tannins, some acid — to make you take another sip.
Even if you aren't into the wine, hip-hop fans will love having a bottle with Snoop on it. As with all the 19 Crimes wine labels, it's also interactive. So if you close your eyes and imagine hard enough, it might actually feel like you're having a glass of wine with Snoop.
1. Martha's Chard
For 19 Crimes' latest celebrity wine, the brand opted for Martha Stewart, who notoriously spent 5 months in prison in 2004 for insider trading. A California chardonnay labeled as Martha's Chard seems innocent enough to represent her, but the wine is actually a bit more complex than it initially lets on.
Cheap Wine Finder says of the wine, "This Chardonnay tastes like green apple, lemon, orange blossom honey, and butterscotch. The mid-palate adds peach mixed with lime, melon, a salty/nutty 'on-lees' sensation, and nectarine and guava. The acidity gives this Chardonnay excellent length, the flavors roll on and on." There's plenty of flavor going on here, that's for sure, and Martha's Chard blows the brand's other chardonnay out of the water.
Not that it's a competition, but the Hard Chard is an Australian chardonnay whereas Martha's Chard is a California chardonnay. If you're torn between the two, definitely go with Martha's Chard but if you're up for it and want to make a fun afternoon with friends, taste them both side by side to see if you can pick out the differences.