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What We Say 2004 Surfrider - Red
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Always, the wines are great. Sometimes greater than great, as is the case with today’s wine from Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate.
Mission Codename: Surf (& Wine) Safari
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Seek the perfect wine for a surf safari
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate
Wine Subject: 2004 Surfrider Red (proprietary blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot)
Winemaker: Christian Roguenant
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Dark inky red/purple with brown and orange hues along the edges with thick legs.
Smell – Give this wine some time to open up and it reveals a aromas of cherries, blackberries, toasted oak and suggestions of the tannins on the mouth.
Feel – Initially wet, then the solid and medium tannins coat the tongue and mouth. This wine has a good structure and complexity.
Taste – Strong fruit-forward characteristics (ripe cherry, blackberry and tart raspberry), smoked apple-wood, vanilla and a slight vegital flavor.
Finish – Long and slightly tart finish that lingers nicely.
Conclusion – A very nice take of the typical Bordeaux blend, however, this wine shows its strong California heritage making this wine great for a barbecue as well as snuggling up in front of a fire (perhaps a beach bonfire).
Mission Report:
Just last week, I was out at Zeros trying to catch a few of the remaining waves from our last swell when my good friend and Operative Alison from Rocker Board Shop paddled into the line up next to me.
After a few rides, gazing into the Pacific for the next outside wave, Alison asked, “hey Agent White, I need a great red wine to bring along for some of my surf adventures”.
“You’re in luck!”, I responded, “Let’s ride a few more waves and I’ll catch up with you on the beach in a bit.”
I just happened to have a bottle of Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate’s Surfrider Red in my car. After, stripping out of my wetsuit, I grabbed the wine, a few glasses (us spies are always prepared for ad hoc tastings) and loaf of Kings Hawaiian Bread and returned to beach.
Using my dinged up longboard as a table, we sat and enjoyed this great Bordeaux-styled red watching the sunset into the mighty pacific. While the weather was a little chilly, the waves and company were tasty, and so was the wine (both the wine and bread disappeared almost as fast as the sun into the horizon). As the sun settled into the ocean and the moon and stars lit the beach, we continued to shared stories of great breaks and great wines.
If you find yourself in need of quality surf gear and apparel, be sure to visit Alison at her shop (link above).
Wine Spies Technical Analysis:
pH: 3.63
Brix at Harvest: 25.3
Alcohol: 14.1%
TA: .68
Cépage: Proprietary blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot
Oak: Seguin Moreau château barrels — Allier and Tronçais, medium toast, 18 months, 40% new, 60% one year
AVA: Malibu – Newton Canyon
Cases Produced: 817
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.
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What the Winery Says
Rosenthal - The Malibu Estate
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this wine supports the Surfrider Foundation to help protect our oceans and beaches!
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Awards & Accolades:
GOLD MEDAL, BEST OF CLASS — West Coast Wine Competition
GOLD MEDAL — San Francisco International Wine Competition
GOLD MEDAL — Tasters Guild Wine Competition, Michigan
GOLD MEDAL — Riverside Wine Competition
About This Wine:
When do wine and surf come together? When you sip our first release of Surfrider Red! Since many people associate Malibu with surfing and beautiful beaches, we designed a label incorporating this coastal lifestyle with fine wines.
We are honored to partner with the Surfrider Foundation, a grassroots, non-profit, environmental organization that works to protect our oceans, waves, and beaches. For each bottle purchased, a donation is made to this praiseworthy enterprise.
Grown, Vinted, and bottled by Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate, from grapes grown exclusively on our Malibu vineyards.
Tasting Notes:
Brilliant ruby glow. Cherry glaze, cedar, vanilla, and violets on the nose. Palette consists of Bing cherry, red raspberry, spice, and a touch of oak. Finish is round and subtle, balanced by firm tannins carried through the ripe red-currant and cedar nuances.
About Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate:
Fine wine from Malibu? Southern California’s Malibu, home to movie stars and Bay Watch?
Yes, these wines are from grapes grown in Malibu not on the famous beach, but in a scenic valley four miles from the coast, 1,400-feet up, above the coastal fog, in the AVA Malibu Newton Canyon.
George Rosenthal, owner of movie studios, hotels, and other enterprises, first planted vineyards at his 250 acre estate in 1987, after spending two years checking soil and weather to make sure he planted the correct varietals in the correct locations.
25 acres of hillside vines are planted in this unique microclimate, where cool breezes filter into Newton Canyon in the evening, tempering warm, sunny days. Even with this boutique size, individual plots of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc are separately vinified and barrel-aged before blending.
Winemaker Christian Roguenant strives to bring out the unique terroir of the site. The reds are unfiltered and unfined, and the Chardonnay does not go through ML. All the grapes come from the estate vineyards.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay can be enjoyed in some of LA’s toniest restaurants, and some of Hollywood’s top stars have sipped the wines at the estate.
You may not be able to wrangle an invitation to the vineyard (then again, you might), but you can now enjoy these wines at your own – estate”.
