Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate

THE ART OF MAKING SPECTACULAR WINES

As most wine experts will tell you: One great bottle of wine stems from years of planning, then planting. Waiting for the right time to harvest, then to barrel, then to bottle; and that’s not even the finished product. You still have to find that perfect blend for each varietal. Like a great song or priceless piece of art, wine doesn’t happen over night. It takes years of dedication and inspiration to create something that will withstand the test of time and only gets better with age.

THE NEW MALIBU WINE TASTEMAKERS

Yes, Malibu. The grapes for our wines are grown not on the famous beach, playground to the stars and surfers' Mecca, but in a scenic valley four miles inland and 1400 feet above the coastal fog. In 1987 Los Angeles businessman George Rosenthal began planting vineyards at his 250 acre Malibu retreat, but only after he spent two years carefully checking soil composition, drainage, and weather conditions to make sure he planted the correct varietals in the most ideal locations on his property. The work proved worthwhile and Malibu Newton Canyon is now recognized as its own distinct AVA (American Viticultural Area) or appellation. Thirty-two acres of hillside vines are now planted in this unique microclimate, where cool evening breezes temper warm, sunny days.

It's an intense undertaking that requires a labor of love. The slopes are steep and everything from canopy management to harvest has to be attended to by hand. The wines are then aged in French oak barrels under the watchful eye of winemaker Christian Roguenant who strives to bring out their unique character. The reds are vinified with limited intervention to highlight terroir and the Chardonnay is made in a Burgundian style yielding a lightly oaked, crisp wine that complements a wide array of foods.

We invite you to enjoy a bottle at your table and taste the flavors of Malibu for yourself.

MEET OUR FOUNDER

"The Rosenthal Estate wine is the only venture I've put my name on in 60 years of multiple company businesses." -- George Rosenthal

George Rosenthal started out in business in 1955 when he founded Raleigh Enterprises, a small general contracting firm focused on developing single family residences. The business grew quickly and today the company is a diversified real estate investment and operating company. An international industry leader, Raleigh encompasses 15 wholly owned subsidiaries, including The Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood; Raleigh Film & Television Studios, worldwide; Hollywood Rentals; File Keepers, Inc; and, of course, Rosenthal - The Malibu Estate.

Yet even with all his success, George had never felt quite so fulfilled from an accomplishment as when he tasted his first Malibu vintage, the 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon, and Rosenthal - The Malibu Estate was born.

MEET OUR WINEMAKER

"There's no such thing as a 'winemaker.' Wine makes itself. The key is to monitor the process every step of the way so that you make the best decisions to allow it to do its own thing. You can't force it." -- Christian Roguenant

Hailed by the Wine Spectator as a winemaker to watch, Christian Roguenant joined the Rosenthal - The Malibu Estate team in 1996 when George Rosenthal invited him to help create wines that reflect the unique terroir and climate of Malibu.

Christian designs balanced wines that may be enjoyed young but can also age twenty years or more in the bottle. He believes in a hands-on approach to winemaking, going out to check the grapes regularly during the growing season. "Wine is very complex, with hundreds of different aromatics. One can enhance it," he says, "but quality is dictated by the vineyard." That's one reason Rosenthal - The Malibu Estate wines are so distinctive: Christian allows the character of the unique terroir and microclimate to shine through. The wine speaks for itself.