2004 Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Mission Codename: Newton Canyon Redux – Part II
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Revist our good freinds at Rosenthal to bring you an exceptional Cabernet.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate
Wine Subject: 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker: Christian Roguenant
Backgrounder:
Cabernet Sauvignon, long the favorite varietal from Napa Valley and certainly among the most noble grapes. But did you know that the unique climate of Newton Canyon in the foothills of northern Malibu also provide the idea conditions to grow Cabernet Sauvignon? Network Canyon is a single vineyard AVA on the south-facing slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains and was formally designated in 1996.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Dark purple, almost black in color, with a dark inky core that fades ever so slightly to garnet and ruby along the edges. When swirled ruby red reflexes glisten and slow moving and thick legs cling to the sides of the glass.
Smell – Intense black fruit including blackberries are layered over woody notes of cedar and oak. Complex hints of mocha, earth, tobacco and spice round out the lovely bouquet of this wine.
Feel – This wine is full-bodied, smooth and dry with solid firm but fine tannins and balanced acidity and shows tremendous finesse and elegance in its structure.
Taste – Excellent layers of rich and plush dark black and red fruit including blackberries and cassis. This wine also has exceptionally balanced hints of oak and cedar along with a nice earthy minerality, mocha, and a lingering flavors of spice and black pepper.
Finish – A clean and long lingering finish that leaves you with flavors of ripe fruit, toasty oak and spice.
Conclusion – Each time we taste a Rosenthal Cabernet we are beyond impressed. It seems that each vintage is better that the previous. The 2004 vintage is a more traditional Cabernet than the 2003 showing excellent balanced flavors of fruit, oak, spice and a structure that will allow this wine to further develop as it ages.
Mission Report:
Summer in Southern California, does it get any better? The last couple days remind us of why I love running to SoCal operations center.
Having wrapped up our recent intel projects on some great Italian wines, I had some free time. I decided to take a trip up the coast. Along the way, it occurred to me that I should check in with one of our inside agents at Rosenthal to see how their progress of the 2004 Cabernet is coming.
It was strange, I hadn’t heard much about the 2004 vintage yet – no doubt after the tough 2003 vintage, but we had no reports from the field. Upon arriving at the prescribed meet point, Agent Blanc (don’t blow her cover, but you may know her if you’re a member of the wine club) handed me bottle of their 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon.
“I can make some of this available to your operatives,” Agent Blanc said, “but tell no-one.” Trying to hide my excitement and thinking to myself ”another Wine Spies exclusive”, Agent Blanc continued “this wine is only available on a limitted basis, but I know you’ll love the wine.”
Love the wine we did; we love all the wines from Rosenthal that are expertly crafted by winemaker Christian Roguenant and this one is exceptional. Once you try this wine, we know you’ll agree.
It’s nice to be a Wine Spy!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.
