Eric Degermen and Andy Perdue, owners of Great NW Wine have reviewed and gave high praise to Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards 2013 Pinot Noir, 2013 Syrah Reserve, and 2014 Riesling. In addition to being a writer for Vancouver Columbian, the Valley Daily News in Kent,WA and The Seattle Times, Eric (President & CEO of Great NW Wine) is an accomplished wine judge for San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Riverside International Wine Competition, and many others. Andy is an accomplished author, his first book The Northwest Wine Guide: A Buyer’s Handbook, was published in 2003. Additionally, Andy has written for several major newspapers and is a judge at San Francisco International Wine Competition, Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition, Riverside International Wine Competition, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and a host of other events.
Here is what Great NW Wine had to say about these “world-class” wines…
2014 Riesling
“EXCELLENT!”
by Great NW Wine
Award-winning Syrah producer Stephen Reustle first gained fame for his pioneering work in the United States with the Austria white grape Grüner Veltliner, so it’s no surprise for him to earn acclaim with Riesling. He farms four clones – 02, 09, 12 and 239 – across his Prayer Rock and Romancing Rock vineyards, and the 3.5 acres of plantings provide some scale to his Riesling program. The nose offers fruity hints of peach, Asian pear, honeydew melon, plantain and kiwi fruit along with clove and pleasing fumes of petrol that should develop further with aging. On the palate, there’s a good blast of early acidity in green apple and pear flavors. It follows with a kiss of sweet kiwi before the fascinating finish of minerality and lemon zest. The Reustles suggest presenting this with a wedge of Gouda cheese or alongside dishes with a heritage of Mexico, India and Thailand.
Rating: Excellent
2013 Syrah Reserve
“EXCELLENT!”
by Great NW Wine
Self-taught winemaker Stephen Reustle grows Syrah in both of his vineyards – Romancing Rock and Prayer Rock – accounting for 6 of the 40 acres planted across his bucolic 200-acre estate near Roseburg, Ore. He recently achieved his greatest international honor with his work with the red Rhône variety when his 2012 Masada Bloc bottling topped the Six Nations Wine Challenge in Australia. This young release flashes purple fruit aromas of blueberry, plum and elderberry along with dark toast, spice and venison. That wild gaminess comes through to the palate with some plummy hedonism, framed by lingering blueberry skin tannins. Its long finish hints at Western serviceberry and more elderberry. The Reustles enjoy serving this Syrah with barbecued ribs, a peppered rib eye or a cheese plate with pecorino.
Rating: Excellent
2013 Pinot Noir
“OUTSTANDING!”
by Great NW Wine
Stephen Reustle chose to establish his vineyard and winery in Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley over other areas of the West Coast, and his plantings near Cal Henry Road near Roseburg continue to prove his prescience regarding the site’s stunning versatility. The historically warm growing season allowed him to harvest six clones of Pinot Noir on Sept. 14 – just ahead of the remnants of Typhoon Pabuk – and his barrel program of 80% new French oak merely adds grace to the bottle. There are mouthwatering aromas of dark strawberry, cherry juice, red currant and cranberry, backed by peach skin and muscovado sugar. The drink is remarkably creamy and elegant on the entry with black cherry and more strawberry, yet there’s complexity as Montmorency cherry acidity and plum skin tannins create a gradual rise to the body. Notes of young leather and caramel in the finish give it pleasing breadth. The Reustles suggest serving it with lamb, grilled salmon or blue cheese.
Rating: Outstanding!
2015 Six Nations Wine Challenge Top Syrah producer, Reustle – Prayer Rock Vineyards™, 2015 Terroir Award Recipient & 2010 Small Winery of the Year named by Riverside International Wine Competition, is 100% estate grown and produced from 40 acres of steep, hillside vineyards in Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley. Family owned and operated since 2001, Reustle – Prayer Rock Vineyards annually produces approximately 8,000 cases of more than a dozen different varietals, reserves, and blends. Reustle – Prayer Rock Vineyards boasts hundreds of medals from major international wine competitions, and a year-round public Tasting Room program; including a sit-down wine and appetizer pairing in its old-world style, underground Wine Cave.
