scott0210 wrote:I'm another one that didn't enjoy the 2008 Racchus. We just tried a third bottle a couple of weeks ago and I still find it too fruity and not much else. Gave it a good hour decant this time too.

Seriously, though this one looks like a very, very different wine given the mix. So not sure it's worth comparing.

Loved the other Ty Caton wines I've bought, 2009 Ty's Red and the 2008 Riverbench Merlot. Would buy more of those any time.

^ I'm also still firmly in this camp.

As I said last night, the Sangio+Zin in this blend really piques my interest. It seems like a nice combination of varietals, though I can't really tell if it would be better/worse/similar than last year's solely from reading about it.

boatman72 wrote:Wow, I've got boxes and boxes of wine, two coolers filled to hilt with wine, wife is in the hospital, and WD puts Ty up on a Monday. I'M IN.....Ty's is my autobuy wine!!!

Couldn't agree more - this is my 15th Ty/Woot purchase.

I absolutely adored the 2008. So much so that I wrote to Ty and encouraged him to try to make more non-estate wines. The two I have opened had significant (hour minimum, one closer to 4 hours) time in the decanter. It had that typical Ty big and bold fruits with a mouthfeel that silky and amazing. Then there were hints of vanilla and chocolate. It paired amazing with a cigar and dark chocolates.

I even preferred the Racchus to his '08 Red, which has been the "weakest" of all the Ty wines I have tried. Again, it had all the trademark Ty characteristics, but I missed out on those more interesting, subtle notes that I did find in the Racchus. I love Petite Sirah, so I think that had a lot to do with my preference.

As been pointed out, this appears to be a different beast altogether, but I am sure it will be good and well worth the money. The only thing is, is it going to be blow me away with the value like the Field Blend, and the '08 Racchus, or be a little less to my liking, but still a good wine and a good price.

Wow - some really polar opposite critiques for the 2008 version of Racchus Red.

Obviously, this wine looks to be something totally different, but I imagine it will still possess the stylings of Ty. We loved the 2008 Racchus and I managed to save 2 bottles to lay down and find out if it goes over the top in a couple years.

dwdyer wrote:In for two. Good offering, and importantly it's cooled off enough I think in Texas so it won't cook before delivery. The heat kept me from making Amy orders.

Yeah that 103 yesterday was downright chilly.

What is this? Cooking wine?

By any chance did anyone get to Ty's party Saturday where you could have tried this? Unofficial rattage would be appreciated.

sdilullo wrote:Here's what I bought earlier this year. Great quality and price - and doesn't take up too much space!

http://amzn.to/q4GAEC

I've bought 3 of these racks for a total of 180 bottles, and, thanks to woot, have filled up all 3!

emccarl wrote:I've bought 3 of these racks for a total of 180 bottles, and, thanks to woot, have filled up all 3!

I bought one, then the other half said I should fill it up, so I promptly did so via WW in about a month (she clearly underestimated me on that front), and now it's full.

So if I buy another...

(It's a vicious - but tasty - circle!)

emccarl wrote:I've bought 3 of these racks for a total of 180 bottles, and, thanks to woot, have filled up all 3!

And now they're on a 4 for 3 special, so you can kick it up to seven racks. Just get rid of your bed or something to make room. Woot demands it.

those of you who don't know already, if you enjoyed the Ty Caton Field Blend, then, this is just a relabeling of that wine...

the more you know...

jkwest wrote:those of you who don't know already, if you enjoyed the Ty Caton Field Blend, then, this is just a relabeling of that wine...

the more you know...

I can't find the exact makeup of the 2008/2009 Field Blend. However, the 2005 composition was dig-uppable.

2005 Field Blend:
- 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Syrah, 15% Petite Sirah, 8% Merlot, 1% Malbec
- Aged 12 months French oak, mixed new & used barrels

2009 Racchus Red:
- 44% Merlot, 31% Sangiovese, 14% Petite Sirah, 11% Zinfandel
- Aged 12 months in mixed new and used barrels

Anyone have a list of the varietals in the newer Field Blends?

ok...it might be different, but, I'm just going off of what I was told by Ty at his tasting room a few years back...


I bought the Field Blend here years ago and went to tasting room hoping to pick up a few more bottles..only to find it replaced by the newly labeled Racchus..

honestly, I preferred the Field Blend label..and blend..

boatman72 wrote:Wow, I've got boxes and boxes of wine, two coolers filled to hilt with wine, wife is in the hospital, and WD puts Ty up on a Monday. I'M IN.....Ty's is my autobuy wine!!!

Sorry to hear your wife is in the hospital.. I hope it is nothing too serious?!

jkwest wrote:ok...it might be different, but, I'm just going off of what I was told by Ty at his tasting room a few years back...


I bought the Field Blend here years ago and went to tasting room hoping to pick up a few more bottles..only to find it replaced by the newly labeled Racchus..

honestly, I preferred the Field Blend label..and blend..

Not doubting you, as Ty has released an '08 and '09 Field Blend. Neither have been offered on WW and I can't find any mention on his site. Accordingly, it's hard to find any details about the composition. You could very well be correct that one of those matches or is very close to this Racchus.

Ty where are you? Please tell us the tasting difference between the 08 and the 09... I want to buy, (don't need to, want to) but need the tasting notes.... Please.....

jkwest wrote:those of you who don't know already, if you enjoyed the Ty Caton Field Blend, then, this is just a relabeling of that wine...

the more you know...

I am going to say no. Of course, Ty will be in here to clear it up, but I think you are absolutely incorrect. I was under the impression that the Field Blend was estate fruit, where the Racchus label is simply California grapes. Also, even if the field blend wasn't estate, if the percentages and sourcing is not the same, it is not simply a "re-label" like the Brothers Elmo was to the '08 Racchus. From my understanding, that is the only perfect "relabling" of a Ty wine. Maybe you meant a rebranding, rewhatever, but I think you are wrong and you speak with such conviction, we need Ty's input.

On the voicemail recording (which was nice but not really informative)Ty indicates that he will be checking in on the boards throughout the day. Sure would be nice to get some of his thoughts on how this compares to prior offerings, including the field blends of years past. The blends are entirely different, so there won’t likely be many similarities, but it would be nice to know how they contrast.

Last wooter to woot: tjhoulihan

Given the new rat policy, do we have some surprise rats for today?

keithnowak7 wrote:I am going to say no. Of course, Ty will be in here to clear it up, but I think you are absolutely incorrect. I was under the impression that the Field Blend was estate fruit, where the Racchus label is simply California grapes. Also, even if the field blend wasn't estate, if the percentages and sourcing is not the same, it is not simply a "re-label" like the Brothers Elmo was to the '08 Racchus. From my understanding, that is the only perfect "relabling" of a Ty wine. Maybe you meant a rebranding, rewhatever, but I think you are wrong and you speak with such conviction, we need Ty's input.

You are correct. The 2005 Field Blend Red was an estate project. Any wine that doesn't come from the mountain vineyard gets the Racchus label or the Carlton Brooke label.

NedDawg wrote:Last year's Racchus Red Reserve was Petite Sirah based, so I guess this should taste very different.
PS. I think the label design is improved this year, making it more presentable.

Yes, one of the differences between the 08 and the 09 is the percentage increase in Merlot into the blend. The wine still possesses Petite Sirah, just not as much. Thanks for the nod on the label upgrade!

sdilullo wrote:Hmm, color me equally interested. I like the '08 but haven't been head-over-heels in love with the bottles I've tasted thus far. Still have 3/8 on the rack waiting to be opened...

Anyway, I'm quite curious to hear how the '09 compares as well. The addition of Sangiovese and Zin to this year's blend really intrigues me in a good way. Hopefully Ty will chime in here in the morning!

I've tasted this new wine with some folks and they seem to all agree this is a better wine than the 08 Racchus Red.

mrprickles79 wrote:the 08 is one of my favorite wines. i put it a 92 on my CT notes and thought it was up there with some of the $60-100 bad boys in my collection...this is my personal opinion and may not reflect others.
im sorry to hear so many folk had spritz problems but thank goodness i never had.
im in foooooo sho.

side note i went to visit Ty's winery this past spring but showed up right when they were closing. i may have seen the man himself and he probably assumed i was just another napa wino looking for a last call fix. i will be there next time i visit earlier.

You probably saw George, our tasting room mgr

jkwest wrote:ok...it might be different, but, I'm just going off of what I was told by Ty at his tasting room a few years back...


I bought the Field Blend here years ago and went to tasting room hoping to pick up a few more bottles..only to find it replaced by the newly labeled Racchus..

honestly, I preferred the Field Blend label..and blend..

The Field Blend is the same program as the "Ty's Red". The Racchus is the non-estate version. This new wine is different from the 08 with less darker fruit notes.

TyCaton wrote:The Field Blend is the same program as the "Ty's Red". The Racchus is the non-estate version. This new wine is different from the 08 with less darker fruit notes.

Ty, thanks for helping us out here. For those of us who missed the '08 Racchus, how (if at all) would you compare this to the '09 Ty's Red that so many of us loved?
And "with less darker fruit notes" than the '08 Racchus, would you think this more approachable now than some Wooters have reported? What would you guess at the drinkability window for the '09?

sdilullo wrote:Thanks, Richard... I always value your reviews highly.

I agree it needs lots of air, and perhaps we were always just too excited to drink it that I never waited long enough. We're getting a nice new decanter (and hopefully a vinturi) for our wedding in a couple months so the Racchus might be the perfect "first bottle" to try out in it.

You're welcome. Actually, as I made that post on my phone last night when rather "tired", my memory was a bit off. The 08 is very zippy too, making more than "decent enough" balance to the tasty ripe dark fruit. It has both smoothness and a really nice zing to it! Not a European wine, so while it took me time to adjust to it and realising it wasn't trying to be such, I then noticed its own qualities: I thought it was a very good, satisfying, and even refreshing drink (once it's opened up after an hour)!!
It's not trying to be sophisticated, but there's a lot going on in it.

Very good drinking on a nice cool day walking San Francisco's headlands and beaches, incidentally.

jeffb wrote:Ty, thanks for helping us out here. For those of us who missed the '08 Racchus, how (if at all) would you compare this to the '09 Ty's Red that so many of us loved?
And "with less darker fruit notes" than the '08 Racchus, would you think this more approachable now than some Wooters have reported? What would you guess at the drinkability window for the '09?

Yes, I think this wine is more approachable now and I would drink it within the next year or two. It's ready to go.

jeffb wrote:Ty, thanks for helping us out here. For those of us who missed the '08 Racchus, how (if at all) would you compare this to the '09 Ty's Red that so many of us loved?
And "with less darker fruit notes" than the '08 Racchus, would you think this more approachable now than some Wooters have reported? What would you guess at the drinkability window for the '09?

I wouldn't compare this to the Ty's Red, 2009. It's a completey different animal.

thanks Ty..

sorry if I confused anyone..

Thanks for the input, Ty... I'm in for one!

My first-ever WW purchase was the '08 Racchus on 9/17/10. So I'm labeling this as a little first Wine-Wootiversary present to myself.

sdilullo wrote:Thanks for the input, Ty... I'm in for one!

My first-ever WW purchase was the '08 Racchus on 9/17/10. So I'm labeling this as a little first Wine-Wootiversary present to myself.

luv it, happy anniversary!

I'm usually not a big fan of Merlot but I can't pass up a Ty Caton offer. In for two. I will enjoy drinking this out on the porch during the nice cool fall evenings.

I can't access my wine woot account to check on some orders, is anyone else having problems??

mobrien05 wrote:I recall both bottles having a fizzyness to them, which was very strange. I was hoping it was just the one bottle, so I tried another one a few months later, and it was also fizzy.

I'm glad to hear I wasn't the only one to experience this. The fizzy sensation on the tongue is quite startling. My first sip, each time we've opened a bottle, has always been "Wow is this spoiled?" and then I remember that it has tasted that way each time. Fortunately the flavor is decent, and the fizz gradually diminishes, but here's hoping for a better 2009.

fredrinaldi wrote:I can't access my wine woot account to check on some orders, is anyone else having problems??

I just checked, and when I click on My Account, it says I have purchased nothing (my wine cellar says otherwise!). You are not crazy (at least on this point).

wineyum wrote:I just checked, and when I click on My Account, it says I have purchased nothing (my wine cellar says otherwise!). You are not crazy (at least on this point).

Hey there, not sure what's up but I've got a message in to some people. In the meantime, if you need to check on previous orders, feel free to contact Member Services through that handy 'write us' link.

Thanks!

inkycatz wrote:Hey there, not sure what's up but I've got a message in to some people. In the meantime, if you need to check on previous orders, feel free to contact Member Services through that handy 'write us' link.

Thanks!

It's back!

keithnowak7 wrote:I am going to say no. Of course, Ty will be in here to clear it up, but I think you are absolutely incorrect. I was under the impression that the Field Blend was estate fruit, where the Racchus label is simply California grapes. Also, even if the field blend wasn't estate, if the percentages and sourcing is not the same, it is not simply a "re-label" like the Brothers Elmo was to the '08 Racchus. From my understanding, that is the only perfect "relabling" of a Ty wine. Maybe you meant a rebranding, rewhatever, but I think you are wrong and you speak with such conviction, we need Ty's input.

So the Brothers Elmo is / was Racchus by another name? Estate vs. non-estate? Same philosophy only or also same blend?

BTW - just noticed it's my woot birthday month - are they still doing codes? This would be a nice excuse to get some Ty...