Impersonating an Egyptian. Stealing fish from a pond or river. Attack with intent to rob. Cutting or burning clothes. Of the 19 crimes sent to Australia as a criminal in the 18th and 19th centuries, only a few were crimes. The crimes are featured on the corks of the wildly successful 19 Crime Wines from the Treasury Wine Estates of Australia, one of the largest wine companies in the world.
These collectible corks are part of a battalion of unique marketing quirks designed to appeal to millennial men who need extra incentive to choose a wine, beer, or spirits. The most elaborate flourishes are AR-assisted talking labels, which when viewed through the 19 Crimes Augmented Reality app on a smartphone, bring to life the opposite stories of some of the convicts.
Many of them were Irish Fenians, who were convicted of ‘punishment by transport’ for their membership of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Once you get past the crimes against an Irish accent, it’s tempting to get little snapshots of their true stories. Both John Boyle O’Reilly and Michael Harrington – who appear on Red Blend and Cabernet Sauvignon respectively – were key players in the wildly elaborate Catalpa rescue, which included Harrington and five other Freemantle Sixes fleeing Western Australia by sailing a small boat. Had gone. Typhoon out on a waiting American whaling ship and merchant ship Catalpa, commanded by former felony escapee Boyle O’Reilly.
fake? Pucca. Effective and original? Absolutely, given the resulting jump in sales (from 4 million to 18 million bottles in just 18 months) and the ensuing fleet of wine-brand imitators. If you’re after a novel gift for someone this Father’s Day, a bottle of 19 primes can be fun—though be warned that these medium-sweet red wines are full of residual sugars similar to grandpa, menez trois. Levels are designed with wide public appeal. and Yellow Tail (usually 12-16 grams per liter).
For those who prefer their red wine drier, my wine of the week is one of a trio of well-crafted biodynamic old-vine Spanish wines. The beautiful mugs on each label communicate the style and how long they’ve been enjoyed (two months in concrete for the youngest, El Picara; 16 months in new French oak barrels for the oldest, El Viejo). Joining them are three solid gift options to fit all budgets, two of which trade not on a story told by individual faces but on quality assured by long-standing family names. Finally, a twist on the credibility of Argentina’s Malbec, with a label that communicates the difference that height can make.
wine of the week
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bodega matsu el raceio 2017
Bodega Matsu El Resio 2017, Toro, Spain, 14.5pc, €23.95
If you have to pick just one of Bodega Matsu’s rock-solid trio of vintage vines Tinta di Toro (Tempranillo), make it this strong yet smooth-toned and surprisingly finesse. Aged for 14 months in second-use oak to guarantee those soft edges with a hint of ripe black fruit, chocolate, and vanilla, silky soft on the palate yet with mineral structure on the finish. Or treat someone this Father’s Day to a box of all three for €85 in select stores. Pinto Wines, 64 Wines, Green Man Wines, Michels, The Wine Center, Bradley Cork, theallotment.ie, theudewinco.ie
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19 Crimes Cabernet Sauvignon
19 Offense Cabernet Sauvignon, South Eastern Australia, 14pc, €18
Its variegated character expressed as blackcurrant and blackberry jam with hints of cedar and eucalyptus, sweet spices and tannic structure, it is rich, round and full-bodied with a medium-sweet finish. Serve with barbecued steak, caramelized onions, and blue cheese. Castle off-license, Molloy’s Stores; moloys.ie
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Mr. François-El Vuitton Cuvée Privé du Château La Gauffelire, Saint-milion Grand Cru 2014
Mr. François-El Vuitton Cuvi Privé du Château La Gafaelire, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2014, Bordeaux, 13.5pc, €120
This intensely heroic couple from the Right Bank grasps the bling and gastronomic luxe, headlining an exclusive selection hand-picked by the charming serial entrepreneur and dedicated Epicurean FLV (for his friends). Think Morello Cherry and Cassis, Leather and Velvet. Brown Thomas; brownthomas.com
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Finca Flichmann Gestos Malbec 2020
Finca Flichmann Gestos Malbec 2020, Mendoza, Argentina, 14.5pc, €11.99
A smart marriage of Malbec from two different altitudes, one with ripe fruit (700m), the other a fresh complication (1,100m). The result: a full-bodied and balanced blend with red and dark fruits, tangy spice notes, ripe tannins, and dense texture—and an easy talking point when flipping those burgers. Lidl
Roquette e Cazes 2018, Douro, Portugal, 13pc, €24.95
A collaboration between Jorge Roquette of Douro’s Quinta do Cresto and Jean-Michel Caz of Château Lynch-Bages fame, this blend of schist-clay Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Rorys is well above its price point, offering power and complexity, Offers balance and finesse. , O’Briens Wines; obrianswine.ie
