2005 Ty Caton Field Blend Red

Mission Codename: Quod erat demonstrandum

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Locate a superior Napa Valley Red Blend that delivers unique character and a delicious drinking experience – without stressing the bank account

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Ty Caton Vineyards

Wine Subject: 2005 Ty Caton Field Blend Red

Winemaker: Ty Caton

Backgrounder: Wine Spies Operatives love great red blends, especially blends with a superior Q.P.R. (Quality to Price Ratio). Today we send Agent Red to the Napa Valley, in search of the perfect high-value Red Blend. Read Agent Red’s interview with Ty, following Red’s tasting notes, below

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Beautiful ruby red, with deeply concentrated color through to the edges of the wine. When swirled, this wine presents a tight and springy surface that settles quickly after swirling – leaving behind skinny legs that move very steadily down the glass

Smell – Juicy cherry and raspberry are fully intertwined with a really rich smoked meat aroma. These great smells are followed by blackberry, cassis, blueberry, custard, vanilla, warm oak and a subtle hint of herbs

Feel – Uniquely oblong, in a good way. This is a difficult concept to describe, so please see Conclusion below for more on this. There is an up-front brightness at the tip, that leads to a mouth coating warmth and big flavors, with lush medium tannins on the mid-palate. Overall, a unique experience!

Taste – Bright, fruity and delicious, with layers of real fruit flavors that almost precisely mirror the nose

Finish – Light at first, then something exciting happens! Flavors that start off light seem to ramp way up – and then tail off slowly, leaving behind a mouth-watering dryness

Conclusion – This great wine was a really pleasant surprise that must be experienced! Unique aromas and flavors with a super unique feel and a finish that will delight you. This wonderful wine is no novelty though, it is a beautifully blended and delicious treat that is as tasty as it is fun to drink. With enough brightness to allow pairing with most foods, this high Q.P.R. gets my recommendation as a stock-up for the holidays wine that is sure to impress your guests – without breaking the bank.

Guest Reviewer Alert!

Today, we welcome back Agent Noir from grapelive.com. What follows are his thoughts on today’s wine:

“Having tasted and enjoyed Ty’s early releases, I feel reassured and am happy to report he is even better now! This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Merlot and Malbec is lush and big fruited with good grip and intensity. The fruit is bold, but layered and clean with bright flavors leading with Cabernet fruit. The red berry is classic Sonoma, and the mix of blueberry and brambly spices are nice additions here. This serious wine has some power and tannins that hold together all that fruit and should let this wine age really well. This is also a great value, especial with its cellaring potential!” -Agent Noir

Mission Report:

TY CATON: This is Ty.

AGENT RED: Ty Caton, Agent Red calling.

TY: Are we on a secure line?

RED: We are. I know how busy you are, so thanks for spending a few minutes with me today. Is harvest keeping you busy?

TY: Yes, but we’re about half way through. Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, and Petite Sirah are off – and next week the Cabernet Sauvignon will start to come off. By mid-month, we’ll be done and crush will continue. I won’t get a great until right around Thanksgiving!

RED: Such is the life of a winemaker, eh?!

TY: Indeed. I have to tell you, 2008 is looking really great. We had some crazy weather, but because of our elevation, we didn’t get hit hard by the frost like other wineries did.

RED: That’s good news! Tell me, Ty, how your career in winemaking began. Are you a lifer?

TY: Actually, I have a background in real estate development. When I was 26 years old, after completing a real estate project, I caught the wine bug. My parents has land in Napa. We became partners, and I began growing grapes.

RED: But that wasn’t enough for you, was it…

TY: No. I had made good friends with our neighbor, who was planting his vineyards at the same time. He turned out to be the winemaker for Ravenswood – and he continues with Ravenswood to this day.

RED: That’s Peter Mathis, right?

TY: Correct. We worked with Peter and, in 2000, released our first vintage. I’ve been honing my winemaking abilities ever since.

RED: I’d say that you’ve done a great job in that regard. Your 2005 Field Blend Red Wine is a super-delicious treat. Here at Wine Spies HQ, we really love the wine.

TY: Thanks. The Field Blend Red is a really special wine. I call it my ‘mini-TyTanium’.

RED: So-called for your TyTanium wine – your flagship, right?

TY: Exactly, but where my TyTanium is a $65 wine, this Field Blend is less than half the price.

RED: We declare the wine to have an exceptional QPR. Its really a great wine, with very distinctive layers of aromas and unique flavors. Its delicious!

TY: I’m glad that you like it. I pick grapes for flavor and blend for maximum effect. I strive to create head turning wines that are rich and deep, yet approachable and fun to drink.

RED: Congratulations, then! You’ve managed just that with your 2005 Field Blend Red Wine!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Ty Caton Vineyards tasting room can be seen in this satellite photo.