Martha’s Chard 19 Crimes Review

ByJon Rogers Updated

Marthas Chard 19 Crimes

Martha’s Chard comes from the 19 Crimes wine brand in Sonoma, California, USA.

Having tried and enjoyed both the Snoop Dog Cali Red and the 19 Crimes Cabernet Sauvignon, both from the 19 Crimes brand, I was certainly curious to see what this one would be like.

So, I purchased a bottle of Martha’s Chard from my local wine store for this review and gave it a try!

Martha’s Chard 19 Crimes Wine Review

From the bottle:

…This spirit lives on today through innovators like Martha Stewart, a self-made icon who build a domestic empire.  Martha’s drive embodies the timeless values of the 19 Crimes mavericks who came before her.

I tasted the 2020 vintage of Martha’s Chard 19 Crimes Chardonnay.

The wine was bottled in December 2021 and the varietal is said to be all Chardonnay.

And an interesting little side note, the QR code on the back of my bottle took me to the 19 Crimes Australia website.

That site had no mention of this wine on it at the time, however the US site did.

Probably just an oversight on printing up the label and I’m sure future bottles will be corrected.

Appearance

In the glass, this wine pours very light gold in color.

It’s quite delicate in appearance, as is typical of Chardonnay.

Also, it’s very leggy with thick tears that were quite slow to fall.

Aroma

First sniffs revealed hints of ripe green melon and a bit of citrus.

There was little to no aroma of alcohol in the nose. i.e., no burn!

Martha’s Chard alcohol content 13.8% by volume, per the bottle.

Taste

Sipping this Chardonnay revealed slightly sweet honeysuckle that transitioned to muted Mandarin orange.

I also noted some nice acidity along with a bit of minerality.

Quite tasty!

Mouthfeel

The wine’s mouthfeel was juicy with just a little bit of tartness.

Finish

Martha’s Chard finished medium to long.

The flavor held its own, but the minerality stole the show at the end.

Overall Opinion of Martha’s Chard

Overall, I really enjoyed this Chardonnay!

This is the third 19 Crimes wine I’ve tasted and so far, none have disappointed.

What I liked most about Martha’s Chard was the complex and enjoyable flavor.

While the aroma was lovely, it was fairly muted and it was really the wine’s palate that stole the show.

I think most people would enjoy this wine.

It starts off with a short sweetness that gets reinstated with a fresh pour, but then lets all its acidic and minerality complexities come through.

Martha’s Chard 19 Crimes price $11.99, making it a great Under $20 Chardonnay that you can’t go wrong with.

Suggested Food Pairing

I’d suggest serving Martha’s Chard with any sort of seafood and butter dish.

But, skip the lemon to cut the richness, as this wine’s lovely acidity will take care of that for you.

Have you tried this wine?  Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Jon Rogers

Hi, I'm Jon! Back in 2012 I started Honest Wine Reviews to share my reviews of wine and wine clubs. Fast forward to today and my reviews have been viewed over 1.9M times. I've reviewed over 200 wines, so be sure check for a review before making your next purchase!

18 Comments

  1. Hi Jon I brought 2 bottles of Martha by chance in Dallas the other day and came back to Sydney and drank a bottle last night , it was so good, where can I buy more do you know , I want Martha face or will I have to wait till I go back to the states, im cabin crew and do a Dallas every couple of weeks

    Reply

    1. Hi Ian,

      Thanks for commenting!

      Unfortunately, not being from Australia, I’m not sure where to find that wine in Sydney.

      I think I would just start visiting local wine shops there and start asking around for it.

      And if I couldn’t find it, I’d look for a local Shiraz, as that’s what Australia is most known for when it comes to wine. I bet there’s some good finds there, that you can’t get back in the States.

      Otherwise, there’s always Dallas when you return.

      Cheers and best of luck!
      Jon

      Reply

  2. I have long been a fan of 19 Crimes wines until I tried Cali Red. Kool Aid. Martha caught my attention though. While not oaky enough for me, it is easy to sip and a summer favorite. So, it has my vote and when bought in “six or more “ at certain stores,it has a better price point.

    Reply

  3. Honestly I was sceptical about this new brand: usually after drinking white wine next day I feel nauseated and headache. Not at all! I was surprised! I felt relaxed, light. Pleasant taste. Besides Martha’s Chard is inexpensive. Enjoyed this wine very much.

    Reply

  4. I love Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, but was looking to try another a few bucks cheaper and decided to try Martha’s Chard. I was pleasantly surprised! I loved it and promptly told my wine-loving sisters and friends about it! I would definitely buy again!

    Reply

  5. One of my favorites. This is a must have in my wine rack. The taste indescribable. Absolutely delish. Bold, sweet, innocent but present. Love~Love~Love Martha’s Chard!

    Reply

  7. I couldn’t agree more. This is a super tasty, complex yet easy to drink wine that is amazing for the price point. I have served it at several get togethers and everyone goes nuts for it. Highly recommend.

    Reply

  8. I have a new favorite chard! Bought a bottle yesterday at Trader Joe’s for $12.99…I was delightfully surprised at both the complexity of flavors and the light creaminess combining perfectly imho…..and I LUVED the long, smooth finish! Going back there today to buy a few more bottles and taking a break from my Ferrari-Carano, La Creama and Simi, lol….

    Reply

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