Winemaker Notes
Father's Watch is a Rhone style blend made from 32% Carignane, 27% Grenache, 22% Syrah, and 19% Mourvedre. The Carignane and Grenache bring high tone fruit, approachability and energy to balance out the earthier Syrah and Mourvedre in the blend.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This dramatic, mediumbodied wine does a great job of emulating its French Rhône forbearers as it offers fruity spicy earthy complexity on a big structure, complemented by a full mouthfeel and firm tannins. While tempting to drink now, it will improve through at least 2025. Blended from Carignane, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Cellar Selection
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.