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Moon Mountain District Estate

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The Story of the Caton Vineyard

The Caton Vineyard boasts a rich history, having been established as a winery and vineyard in the 1920s. It continued operations through Prohibition and into the 1940s. The original winery, crushpad, and main home still stand today, honored on our Caton Cabernet Collection labels. 

Today Ty Caton Vineyards totals 108 acres on Moon Mountain, 40 of which are planted to vines, all on hillsides. The rest is wild habitat. It’s in a pedigreed location, rubbing shoulders with some of the finest terroirs in Sonoma County, such as Bismark and Rancho Salina, and is adjacent to the fabled Monte Rosso Vineyard. 

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Moon Mountain District is a new AVA as of 2013, and still a relatively small one, with only 1,500 acres planted. On the western slopes of the Mayacamas range, this is the land of old mountain vineyards, many over 50 years old, such as the nearby Monte Rosso and Hanzell. Here, the rocky and infertile volcanic soils, combined with abundant wind, produce low yields from small berries and clusters with thick skins. It’s simply the finest place in Sonoma County for Cabernet Sauvignon.

The vines truly struggle in Caton Vineyard. The deepest soils here are 4-6 feet deep, with many topsoils only 12-18 inches over pure volcanic bedrock. Viticulture would be impossible here without irrigation. 

Sustainability

Sustainability means a lot of things to a lot of different people, but for Ty, it’s the intersection of economically viable, environmentally friendly, and socially acceptable practices. 

“This is my family’s property and I want it to be for generations to come,” he says. “I want to be a good steward of the land.” For the health of his vineyard workers and family, no herbicides such as glyphosate (Round-Up) are used in the vineyards. 

Ty Caton Vineyard uses a double-guyot trellis system, an old French style designed for low volume and high quality. This allows for a yield of two to three tons per acre—an optimal yield for luxury-quality wines.

Hover over the blocks in the above map to learn more

The Seven Caberent Sauvignon Blocks

Arroyo

A warm site, the Arroyo faces southeast, giving it the full ripening power of the morning sun. It’s planted to Cabernet Sauvignon clone 337, which originated in Bordeaux and came to the US in 1989. This vineyard is also winged by two small plots of Malbec.

Knoll

At just a half acre, the Knoll is the wildest section of the vineyard. It was so brushy, Ty had no idea what lay underneath as he prepared to clear it. 81 jackhammer bits later, now we know: It’s rock, and lots of it. The late-maturing Clone 8 Cabernet Sauvignon is perfect for this site, making for intense, unique wine. 

Terraces

So steeply inclined, Ty had to create terraces on this hillside, as it is too abrupt to orient rows up-and-down. Some of these rows on The Terraces are too small for a tractor, and must be farmed by hand. Planted to Clone 8 Cabernet Sauvignon, these vines face west, catching the last rays of the day.

Little Hill

Here the vines are very small, thanks to almost zero fertility, planted in volcanic “moon dust” that somehow refuses to hold water. This block produces the most high-toned, “Bordelais” of our Cabernets.

Big Hill

Big Hill is one of the toughest vineyards to farm, with steep slopes at over 40% grade. Both its soil and east-west row alignment creates a wine with medium acidity and polished tannins. Big Hill offers an elegant yet distinctive palate, with supple fruit and exceptional quality.

Upper Bench

At the vineyard’s highest point, deep red volcanic soil nurtures our 7.96-acre block of Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 8. With precise micro-irrigation across eight stations, each vine reflects the unique terroir and our careful craftsmanship.

Barracks

This north to south-facing saddle routinely produces our biggest, boldest wines with classic Cabernet aromas and flavors, with a firm grip and a lingering finish.

Our Special Blocks

Petite Sirah

Planted to Clone 3 Petite Sirah, identified in Sonoma County in the 1960s, these vines are now over 20 years old and in their prime, giving a Petite with suave tannins and striking blue and black fruit.

Ballfield Syrah

In the 1960s, this vineyard was originally a baseball field for the San Francisco Boys and Girls Club. Two blocks here offer distinct characteristics and harmonious balance when blended. Block 1 is a 2.6 acre planting with North-South row direction. This block consistently offers bold fruit and a complex flavor profile. Block 2 is a 3.9 acre site with East-West row direction. The block is warm with limited afternoon sun, so it produces a wine with the best of both worlds: fruit forwardness of a warm site and spice qualities of a cool site.

The Ridge – George’s Malbec

Ty planted a half-acre of Malbec in 2004 that wings the top of the Arroyo vineyard along the ridge, with a small terraced area farmed by hand with weed-whackers and backpack sprayers. It produces a very dark, plummy beauty with delicate floral notes and intense white pepper spice.

Upper Bench Merlot

400 feet in elevation above the other vineyards, this 3-acre site planted to Inglenook clone (clone 3) produces very chiseled, grippy wines with lots of aging potential.

SandyBrooke Vineyards – Petit Verdot

Ty farms a small two-acre vineyard behind his house called SandyBrooke, named for his parents. Ty’s father, Carlton Brooke Caton, planted this vineyard in 2006, and the wine produced from it is named in his honor. Like the Malbec, It’s also a high density developed vineyard that is farmed by hand and not with a tractor. While the mountain vineyard is volcanic, this terroir in the town of Sonoma was once a river bed.

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Tasting Room:

In the Kenwood Village Plaza
8910 Sonoma Hwy 12
Kenwood, CA 95452

Winery:

21684 8th Street East,
Suite 460
Sonoma, CA 95476

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