It’s a special treat to meet a winemaker and have his undivided attention. Pure Luxury recently enjoyed an evening with Ty Caton and his wife, Kristen, featuring Ty Caton wines paired with a delicious menu created by Saddles Steakhouse at MacArthur Place in Sonoma.
We entered a private room in Saddles and were greeted by Ty and Kristen Caton along with a generous pour of 2008 Ty Caton Rose. This 100% Syrah was flavorful and crisp. Those among us who are not usually fans of Rose greatly enjoyed this 2008 Ty Caton Rose.
We sat at a table set close to a warm fire and began enjoying our appetizers paired first with 2006 Ty Caton Merlot. The lush, velvety mouth feel of this Merlot, with dark fruit notes of cherry and plum, left us without any questions as to why this Merlot received a Gold Medal in the 2008 Sonoma County Harvest Fair. Ty Caton Vineyards is comprised of 40 acres. Three of those acres are dedicated to Merlot.
The next appetizer was paired with a new release – the organically farmed 2007 Ty Caton Malbec. The Prince Edward Island Mussels & Manilla Clams steamed in San Francisco’s Anchor Steam beer at first glance left us wondering how the flavors of beer and wine would intermingle. However, the flavor of the broth complimented the Malbec creating a new experience from the Malbec alone. Ty Caton Vineyards has 400 vines of Malbec. The Wine Enthusiast awarded this exquisite 2007 Ty Caton Malbec with 87 points. The Malbec features a sweet entrance followed by a spicy finish.
The 2008 Ty Caton Ty’s Red was paired with a Saddles Salad consisting of Baby Greens, Candied Walnuts, Goat Cheese, and Cider Vinaigrette. Ty’s Red is a delicious blend of Cabernet, Syrah, and Merlot.
The entre: a 6 oz. Filet Mignon with Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Market Vegetables, Wild Mushrooms, and Cabernet Demi-Glace; was paired with 2008 Ty Caton Cabernet. This 100% Cabernet is created using 4 different vineyards on the Ty Caton estate. All Ty Caton’s wines are sustainably farmed and certified sustainable by Stellar Certification Services, an independent group that verifies Ty Caton Vineyards farming practices. As one of the few exclusively estate producers in Sonoma Valley, Ty is able to practice “farming for flavors.”
For dessert, a Traditional Dark Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream was paired with 2006 Ty Caton Tytanium. This Double Gold Medal winner in the 2009 Sonoma Valley Wine Competition, Gold Medal winner from the San Francisco Wine Competition, Gold Medal winner at the 2009 Harvest Fair, showcases the master blending techniques of Ty Caton. In blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Merlot, Ty Caton has created an exceptional wine. The 2006 Ty Caton Tytanium features the scent of vanilla and deep, dark fruit combined with the taste of blackberry, plum and currant. The evening ended with the popular 2008 Ty Caton Petite Sirah.
It would be impossible to choose just one of these wines as a favorite. There is no such thing as a mediocre wine from Ty Caton Vineyards. The motto of Ty Caton Vineyards is, “Actively Seeking Excellence. ” Pure Luxury thinks Ty Caton has already achieved it. Pure Luxury is excited and honored to partner with Ty Caton Vineyards on one of our new exciting packages coming this month! In the meantime, you can visit their tasting room in Sonoma open seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can also purchase Ty Caton Vineyards wines at Cellars of Sonoma.
