With savory aromas and a deep, luscious color, this much-loved wine strokes your palate with flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, and cassis. The thick velvety texture gives way to toasty oak and finishes with just a hint of chocolate. Enjoy with your favorite grilled meats.
Vintage
The 2021 harvest is reported to be one of the best vintages in recent harvests for Northern California. The ongoing drought presented some challenges – limited rainfall and warm growing conditions throughout the summer months resulted in a speedy harvest with lighter yields. The conditions brought smaller berries with exceptional quality and concentrated flavors
Vineyard
Located in the foothills of Sonoma Valley, the Caton Vineyard is defined by its sustainable farming and belief that healthier vineyards produce unique and distinctive wines. The vineyards have multiple sun exposures, soil types, and vary in altitude over 300 feet between each other. Our meticulous farming practices showcase the love for our land and our passion for the wines that come from it.
Specs
Vintage: 2021
Varietals: 36% Merlot, 31% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petite Sirah, 4% Petit Verdot
Appellation: Moon Mountain District ~ Sonoma Valley
At Ty Caton Vineyards, our commitment to excellence begins in the Caton Vineyard, where winemaker Ty Caton sustainably farms the hillside fruit used in his Moon Mountain District wine. As one of the few exclusively estate producers in Sonoma Valley, Ty works with grapes from soil to glass by enabling him to make extraordinary wines that showcase the vineyard. Ty Caton wines have received critical acclaim in world-renowned wine publications and competitions, including many Best of Class honors. As a grape grower and winemaker, Ty strives to produce the “wow factor” by making wines that are bold, beautifully structured, and are a true representation of the vineyards they come from.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
The bottle arrived Friday. After giving it some time to rest, I opened it Monday evening. Per usual, I recruited a friend to have another person’s insight and we used a De Long tasting note sheet as a framework to form the following notes.
Color depth: Deep
Color hue: Red
Clarity: Clear
Aroma intensity: Aromatic
Development: Some age (tastes older than it is).
Aromas: It’s pretty tame if you pour it and let it sit. It sure comes to life though after you swirl it. Aromas of plum, cherry, cassis, black pepper, and oak.
Dry/Sweet: Bone dry
Body: Full-bodied
Acidity: Fresh
Tannins: High and round.
Balance: Good (great honestly)
Flavor intensity: Flavorful
Flavors: Cherry, plum, cassis, black pepper, dark chocolate, and oak.
Finish: Long
Style: Traditional
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Food pairing: Perfect
Misc notes:
I didn’t do any research of the wine prior to tasting, and I asked my friend how much he thought this wine would sell for and he guessed $45. I then looked it up and saw that it sells for $38 on Ty’s website. I’m writing this prior to the offer going live, and I’m guessing the Casemates price will be around $18-$20.
After night one there was approximately 5 ounces left, which was stored in the bottle at room temp. No vacuum pump was used. I finished the last bit on Tuesday evening and the flavor profile was consistent. The only noteworthy difference was the tannins had mellowed and that allowed me to enjoy sipping the wine on its own. On night one, the wine was definitely best when paired with food. Which foods you ask? Ty’s website says grilled meats, and I wholeheartedly agree. The wine was paired with bacon wrapped sirloin (by pure coincidence) on Monday night and it was a match made in heaven.
Conclusion:
It’s hard to believe this vintage is 2021. It truly drinks like a wine with much more age. The flavor profile is mature, well-integrated, and oh so smooth. Ty is an exceptional wine maker and I’m sure you could lay this down for a while, but there’s certainly no need to because it’s drinking beautifully right now.
Many thanks to @WineTy , @winedavid49 , @wccwinegirl and the entire Casemates crew for all the work you do. It’s much appreciated, and I’m always grateful for the opportunity to be a Lab Rat.
For anyone interested, here’s a link to the wine tasting note form that can be downloaded for free.
@kawichris650 great rattage!
I’ve always been a bit confused when people describe tannins…what does “round” mean for tannins? I see in the form that it could be soft, hard, round, dry. I always think of tannins as “drying”, so I’m not sure how else I would describe them.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2021 Ty Caton Vineyards Estate Ty’s Red - $30 = 12.49%
@Mark_L@winedavid49 a low “penalty” for partial orders makes me much more likely to buy. Especially since I have a stock of full (and heavy) cases I’ve never broken into yet.
Ok, happy Wednesday, finally. Alice touched base and sent off a bottle of '21 Ty Caton Ty’s Red. Thanks as always! Now I know most/many/some of y’all are pretty familiar with his wines but, and no particular reason, I’ve had maybe 5 bottles lifetime and can’t remember the last one. But as I like to say, who cares.
Being a young relatively full bodied red it got a gentle poor into a decanter, popped at 61°F. Pour into a Gabriel-Glas Universal Gold Edition. Color pretty opaque. Not giving up a ton on the nose. Kind of leggy if that clicks your trigger. Pretty complete front to back, really doesn’t drop off anywhere, nice finish, easy tannins. Has a softness that I’m assuming is the Merlot showing it’s face. A little heat. Spice, maybe sandalwood? and black fruit. Definitely on the fruity side, I wrote a yum wine but probably not that fruity. Pretty well balanced all in all. No need to drink now but I’m thinking that’s what it is built for. One thing stood out as a distraction, and I enjoy earthy wines, but this had a chalkiness/grittiness to it that I couldn’t shake and detracted from the experience. Food alongside was Flannery hanger with Ancho chile and coffee dry rub, Brussels sprout, starch.
A good 1/3 bottle left for day two, just back in the bottle, cork, fridge. Ok, maybe day one was a root day and day two was a fruit day. Much better, similar profile but different wine in that it lost that chalkiness. So maybe it does need a little time or just be patient and give it some good air prior to drinking.
My lovely bride noted blackberry, a little acidic, needed time in the glass to come around. Vanilla, full bodied. Day two she also thought it smoothed out a bit, floral, deep berry. Pairing was wings and rib tips in the smoker with typical rub I put together and Carolina mustard sauce, beans, yum.
And that’s about it, always fun to play here and I appreciate the chance!
Edit, just now read @kawichris650 rattage, nice job. Some similarities in our experiences but not.
Got around to that Wine Enthusiast review…
92 points. This blend of Merlot and Syrah with a few other varieties is loaded with aromas of blue fruits, pine forest and pepper on the nose. The palate brings plenty of plum and blackberry flavors in a framework of rich tannin and barrel spice. Best from 2028-2040. — Tom R. Capo 4/1/25
With a likely late May delivery window, I’m assuming no mention of summer shipping yet means probably no styro packaging on this. I’m typically near the end of the delivery route and a full day truck ride in the warm and humid midwest without that protection makes me nervous
@james Yeah but disposing of the styrofoam is a problem (I mean not just putting in garbage.) There was a place in the area that took it for free 24 hours a day but it’s closed. Last year I found a place that would take a carload for $10. I have some more so I have to check if it’s still open.
I bet those sturdy cardboard boxes along with the styrofoam cost a lot for the shipper. I would even be glad to pay some modest return fee so it could be re-used.
@pmarin Lately I’ve been able to use the styro I’ve gotten in the past but would love a recycle drop off or other reuse option. I’ve been reading that sourcing it new is cheaper which is disappointing, but then again I know little about what goes into either process
2021 Ty Caton Vineyards Estate Ty’s Red
92 Points ~ Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Vintage
Vineyard
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$456.00/Case for 12x 2021 Ty Caton Vineyards Estate Ty’s Red at Ty Caton Vineyards
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jun 2 - Tuesday, Jun 3
2021 Ty Caton Vineyards Estate Ty’s Red
4 bottles for $79.99 $20/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $209.99 $17.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Previous offer:
7/31/24 (2020)
2021 Ty Caton Ty’s Red
The bottle arrived Friday. After giving it some time to rest, I opened it Monday evening. Per usual, I recruited a friend to have another person’s insight and we used a De Long tasting note sheet as a framework to form the following notes.
Color depth: Deep
Color hue: Red
Clarity: Clear
Aroma intensity: Aromatic
Development: Some age (tastes older than it is).
Aromas: It’s pretty tame if you pour it and let it sit. It sure comes to life though after you swirl it. Aromas of plum, cherry, cassis, black pepper, and oak.
Dry/Sweet: Bone dry
Body: Full-bodied
Acidity: Fresh
Tannins: High and round.
Balance: Good (great honestly)
Flavor intensity: Flavorful
Flavors: Cherry, plum, cassis, black pepper, dark chocolate, and oak.
Finish: Long
Style: Traditional
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Food pairing: Perfect
Misc notes:
I didn’t do any research of the wine prior to tasting, and I asked my friend how much he thought this wine would sell for and he guessed $45. I then looked it up and saw that it sells for $38 on Ty’s website. I’m writing this prior to the offer going live, and I’m guessing the Casemates price will be around $18-$20.
After night one there was approximately 5 ounces left, which was stored in the bottle at room temp. No vacuum pump was used. I finished the last bit on Tuesday evening and the flavor profile was consistent. The only noteworthy difference was the tannins had mellowed and that allowed me to enjoy sipping the wine on its own. On night one, the wine was definitely best when paired with food. Which foods you ask? Ty’s website says grilled meats, and I wholeheartedly agree. The wine was paired with bacon wrapped sirloin (by pure coincidence) on Monday night and it was a match made in heaven.
Conclusion:
It’s hard to believe this vintage is 2021. It truly drinks like a wine with much more age. The flavor profile is mature, well-integrated, and oh so smooth. Ty is an exceptional wine maker and I’m sure you could lay this down for a while, but there’s certainly no need to because it’s drinking beautifully right now.
Many thanks to @WineTy , @winedavid49 , @wccwinegirl and the entire Casemates crew for all the work you do. It’s much appreciated, and I’m always grateful for the opportunity to be a Lab Rat.
For anyone interested, here’s a link to the wine tasting note form that can be downloaded for free.
https://www.delongwine.com/products/wine-tasting-note-form
@kawichris650 great rattage!
I’ve always been a bit confused when people describe tannins…what does “round” mean for tannins? I see in the form that it could be soft, hard, round, dry. I always think of tannins as “drying”, so I’m not sure how else I would describe them.
@TimW Thank you!
I’m far from an expert, but I try my best. This site explains it much better than I could.
https://www.goodpairdays.com/guides/wine-tasting/article/tannin/?srsltid=AfmBOopln8F8y_uMM237MLmyioFIk83QrisN55dtI0GM_Qah8GSXcgGx
@kawichris650 thanks for the info!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2021 Ty Caton Vineyards Estate Ty’s Red - $30 = 12.49%
@Mark_L @winedavid49 a low “penalty” for partial orders makes me much more likely to buy. Especially since I have a stock of full (and heavy) cases I’ve never broken into yet.
Another rattage shortly… life got in the way this morning
Ok, happy Wednesday, finally. Alice touched base and sent off a bottle of '21 Ty Caton Ty’s Red. Thanks as always! Now I know most/many/some of y’all are pretty familiar with his wines but, and no particular reason, I’ve had maybe 5 bottles lifetime and can’t remember the last one. But as I like to say, who cares.
Being a young relatively full bodied red it got a gentle poor into a decanter, popped at 61°F. Pour into a Gabriel-Glas Universal Gold Edition. Color pretty opaque. Not giving up a ton on the nose. Kind of leggy if that clicks your trigger. Pretty complete front to back, really doesn’t drop off anywhere, nice finish, easy tannins. Has a softness that I’m assuming is the Merlot showing it’s face. A little heat. Spice, maybe sandalwood? and black fruit. Definitely on the fruity side, I wrote a yum wine but probably not that fruity. Pretty well balanced all in all. No need to drink now but I’m thinking that’s what it is built for. One thing stood out as a distraction, and I enjoy earthy wines, but this had a chalkiness/grittiness to it that I couldn’t shake and detracted from the experience. Food alongside was Flannery hanger with Ancho chile and coffee dry rub, Brussels sprout, starch.
A good 1/3 bottle left for day two, just back in the bottle, cork, fridge. Ok, maybe day one was a root day and day two was a fruit day. Much better, similar profile but different wine in that it lost that chalkiness. So maybe it does need a little time or just be patient and give it some good air prior to drinking.
My lovely bride noted blackberry, a little acidic, needed time in the glass to come around. Vanilla, full bodied. Day two she also thought it smoothed out a bit, floral, deep berry. Pairing was wings and rib tips in the smoker with typical rub I put together and Carolina mustard sauce, beans, yum.
And that’s about it, always fun to play here and I appreciate the chance!
Edit, just now read @kawichris650 rattage, nice job. Some similarities in our experiences but not.
@kaolis The Ty wine is always something I want, but now I would like some food delivery from you! Looks delicious!
@kaolis @pmarin
I think he’s at expert level in photoshop, or AI enhancement scripting.
@rjquillin
Wait, are you saying his food doesn’t taste as good as it looks?!
@kawichris650
Naw, just stirring the pot. Everything he posts looks yummy
@pmarin @rjquillin @kawichris650 That’s a mean stir sir (hey that rhymes)… no photoshop ever and no AI ever, and I’m 100 points on that! ha!
@kaolis Fantastic food!
@kaolis @kawichris650 @pmarin @rjquillin You all just keep reinforcing that I need to find room for a proper smoker.
Got around to that Wine Enthusiast review…
92 points. This blend of Merlot and Syrah with a few other varieties is loaded with aromas of blue fruits, pine forest and pepper on the nose. The palate brings plenty of plum and blackberry flavors in a framework of rich tannin and barrel spice. Best from 2028-2040. — Tom R. Capo 4/1/25
fwiw
With a likely late May delivery window, I’m assuming no mention of summer shipping yet means probably no styro packaging on this. I’m typically near the end of the delivery route and a full day truck ride in the warm and humid midwest without that protection makes me nervous
@james Yeah but disposing of the styrofoam is a problem (I mean not just putting in garbage.) There was a place in the area that took it for free 24 hours a day but it’s closed. Last year I found a place that would take a carload for $10. I have some more so I have to check if it’s still open.
I bet those sturdy cardboard boxes along with the styrofoam cost a lot for the shipper. I would even be glad to pay some modest return fee so it could be re-used.
@james
IIRC, Summer Shipping starts first week of June.
@pmarin Lately I’ve been able to use the styro I’ve gotten in the past but would love a recycle drop off or other reuse option. I’ve been reading that sourcing it new is cheaper which is disappointing, but then again I know little about what goes into either process
@chipgreen Yes I think it has been around there or maybe just after Memorial Day – but for purchases after that, not shipping estimate dates, right?
CAMBRIDGE / BOSTON two way split ?
Oh happy (well, less grumpy) day! Always wanted to try this but somehow always seemed to miss them.
/giphy fun-influential-tequila
Not sure what direction I am heading in… both fat and hungry?
/giphy portly-famished-direction
Anyone in Chicago (city) want a split?