Ian Blackburn in Valley Scene Magazine
Ian Blackburn, Founder of LearnAboutWine was featured on Valle Scene Magazine.
Ian Blackburn organized a fun picnic-wine tour at Rosenthal Estate Winery on August 28th and 29th, 2011.
Rosenthal Estate is a “Straight out of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” located four miles from the coast, 1,400-feet up, just above the coastal fog, in the AVA Malibu Newton Canyon…
LearnAboutWine offered 4 sessions, 1 in AM and 1 in PM on each day.
Around 200 people participated and shared a good time with great quality wines under beautiful hot summer sunshine!
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“Leave it to the masterful Ian Blackburn (LEARN ABOUT WINE) to introduce wine lovers to Rosenthal Estate and Winery. And it’s only one in the ongoing series of this entertaining educator’s unique events.
If you don’t know the address, it’s just about impossible to locate the Rosenthal Estate, a hidden gem along the scenic valley Kanan Dume road about four miles inland and 1400 feet above the coastal fog.
We were first privileged to attend what was billed as a “picnic and vineyard tour” by the Los Angeles Culinary Historians years ago. Expecting to plod through soft earthy ground, we were astonished to drive the last few miles over a hand-paved brick road up to what could be the most beautiful Mediterranean villa in America.
Mr. George Rosenthal himself hosted us while a staff tended out every need around the pool at our heavenly “picnic” under a cloudless sky. We overlooked vineyards below and all around us.
Our LEARN ABOUT WINE tour began in the Mediterranean stable-turned-tasting room opposite the villa, spiffy and handsome enough for the dining room setting. After a tasting, we walked the path through the vineyards up to the villa and back.
We were won over from the first sip of the refreshing 2009 Surfrider Chardonnay with peach and pear notes and hints of apple and Meyer lemon.
Surfrider wine is from the Santa Lucia Highlands region in Monterey County, famed for growing exceptional Chardonnay. A donation is made to the Surfrider Foundation for each bottle purchased.
At lunch we were treated to a 2008 Petite Verdot from the Malibu Newton Canyon. According to Neil McNally, our Rosenthal host for the day, “We have been growing Petit Verdot, one of the five great Bordeaux varietals to blend with other varietals in the past. But you are tasting our first 100% bottling.
“Our Petit Verdot vineyard is the highest at the estate, extremely steep and hard to farm. But it’s worth the effort. It’s deep inky purple in color, and is known for aromas of violet and toasty oak, and flavors of current, blackberry, and spice on the palate. The finishes are lush with lush tannins and hints of sage and mint.”
My favorite is still the 2005 Rosenthal Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. It turns out there is good reason for it: 2005 had almost perfect growing conditions: winter rainfall, a mild spring for good pollination in all varieties on our Estate and warm summer temperatures. In the Cab, look for deep purple-red color, with aromas of cedar and toasty oak. There are smooth flavors of cassis, mint, and red fruits on the mid-palate with hints of black raspberry, dark cherry and exotic spices on the long, full finish. The Rosenthal story is the stuff of movies. Movie studio-magnate-turned vintner, Rosenthal, was one of the first of a tiny community of dedicated winegrowers to reintroduce grapes to Malibu, planting a few acres of Bordeaux varietals in 1987 at his 250 acre country retreat after being inspired while on a trip to Spain.
Rosenthal used all of his genius to cope with the mountainous terrain with its array of soils, microclimates and sun exposures, rather than flat valley vineyards. Every block within a site requires a high level of care. For example, the steep slopes require that everything from canopy management to harvest be attended to by hand. The wines are then aged in French oak barrels to bring out their unique character under the watchful eye of winemaker Christian Roguenant. And now, a century after the original Malibu wineries closed, wine is making a comeback.
Another convenient Rosenthal Malibu Tasting Room is located at 26023 Pacific Coast Highway. Open Wednesday through Sunday for tastings of newest released wines. For more information, please see www.rosenthalestatewines.com or phone: 800.814.0733
In 1995, Master of Wine Student and innovative wine industry spokesperson, Ian Blackburn, created Learn About Wine, with a mission to demystify wine for everyone from the casual drinker to the potential collector. It remains the leading source for wine education, service and events in Southern California with almost 20,000 followers.
LearnAboutWine events include the wildly successful, monthly “TASTE” Series, a large- scale wine social; “PALATE BUILDER” Sensory evaluation class, VINTAGE – High end collectables tastings and LAW SCHOOL – the four week credential program that concludes with the BAR exam (Beverage Aptitude Review). Over 30,000 students in Southern California have participated in LearnAboutWine’s core class “Wine Camp,” considered one of the top introduction courses in the region. For more information: www.LearnAboutWine.com.”
