Ty Caton Cabernet Sauvignon Caton Vineyard | An Estate Grown Sonoma Gem
As the hunt for good Napa Cabernet under $20 becomes an increasingly arduous one, you might consider treating your taste buds to a sojourn in Sonoma.
If it’s Pinot Noir that comes to mind when you think of Sonoma, keep in mind when you head further west towards Sonoma Coast is where you’ll find the highest concentration of vineyards dedicated to Pinot (and Chardonnay). But just across the Mayacama mountain range from Napa Valley you’ll find warmer days along with some great Cabernet’s such as this example by Ty Caton Vineyards.
I’ve enjoyed this wine on several occasions and figured it was time to share a great California Cabernet value I’ve stumbled across via Wines til Sold Out. And for the naysayers who think that Cabernet cannot be from the 2011 vintage, let alone from Sonoma, I challenge you to give the Ty Caton Cabernet Sauvignon a shot!
Appearance: Pours a very dark, almost opaque color in the glass and turns crimson at the rim.
Nose: The aromas are perfumed and dark revealing violets, coffee, black cherry, creme de cassis and vanilla.
On the palate: The Ty Caton Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold, deep expression of Cabernet Sauvignon that evolves in the mouth with notes of coffee, copious dark fruit, violets and a hint of graphite supported by well-integrated oak influences, powdery tannin and a nice streak of acidity that maintains good balance.
Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2011
Origin: Caton Vineyard, Sonoma Valley, CA
Value Rating: 4.75 / 5
Where to get it: When it becomes available on WTSO, or directly from Ty Caton Vineyards.
Price: $19.99 ($44 Retail)
Score: 92
Should you buy? The 2011 Ty Caton Caton Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is frankly hard to put down. This estate-grown Sonoma Valley Cabernet is a fine example of the contrarian approach paying off in spades. Go against the crowd and give a Sonoma Cabernet a shot, and why not from the beaten-down 2011 vintage? When the fruit is in the hands of a solid producer like Ty Caton, the results can be surprising.
Value Proposition | Ty Caton Vineyards 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon
This is really well-made Cabernet, especially for the vintage. It was cold and wet, which greatly reduced yields and made it difficult to achieve good ripening – yet the Ty Caton 2011 Cabernet delivers loads of Cab character with great balance to boot.
It’s also entirely estate grown (rare in Sonoma) and produced using sustainable farming practices by owner/winemaker Ty Caton. The Caton Vineyard is located in the foothills of Sonoma Valley and sees variations in altitude of up to 300 feet in addition to multiple soil types and sun exposures.
While its easily worth every penny of its original $45 retail price, it is a screaming deal at the WTSO price of $20. Follow me on Twitter for a heads up when this makes another appearance at this price!
