THE STORY
Last summer, the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society was approached by Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards & Winery from the Umpqua Valley in Oregon. Gloria Reustle and her husband Stephen offer a unique educational blind wine tasting experience comparing their Umpqua Valley wines to European counterparts. They also teach on the European Regions and their style of wines.
They wanted to see if we would be interested in having such an event for our AWS group. After some back and forth, we were able to schedule this event for mid-March.
I’m all about wine education, so I’m happy to present this event in Decanting Monterey.
ABOUT UMPQUA VALLEY AVA
Having heard about Umpqua on a visit to relatives living in Oregon (it’s where their milk comes from), I was intrigued from the jump about this tasting. It is “Oregon’s oldest fine wine region.”
From the Umpqua Valley Wineries website:
“Umpqua Valley is the cradle of modern Oregon fine wine. The “100 Valleys of Umpqua” are filled with lush rolling vineyards, over 30 wineries growing 50+ varieties and a cast of diverse winemakers all exploring and crafting some of the finest wines in the Pacific Northwest. Come and taste!”
Its History
“The Umpqua Valley’s wine-growing history dates back to the 1880s when German immigrants who had worked for the Beringer Bros., the oldest continuously operating vineyard in Napa, planted the first wine grape vineyard in the Valley. Post-Prohibition, Richard Sommer established HillCrest Vineyard near Roseburg in 1961. He was the first to plant and bottle Pinot Noir in Oregon despite being told by his UC Davis cohorts that it was impossible to successfully grow wine grapes in Oregon. During the 1970s, new wineries opened, including Henry Estate Winery and Girardet.
“Today the Umpqua Valley appellation continues to evolve and now has over 30 wineries making over 40 varieties into some of America’s most distinctive wines. Everyday more winemakers discover the area, bringing with them a passion for innovation and world-class wine. The Umpqua Valley appellation became official in 1984.”
Click here for Sip Magazine’s Ultimate Guide to Oregon’s Umpqua Valley AVA.
ABOUT REUSTLE PRAYER ROCK VINEYARDS & WINERY
From their website: “Reustle (pronounced “rus’el”) Prayer Rock Vineyards is a family-owned winery in Oregon’s Umpqua Valley. Located 20 minutes from Roseburg, the winery features a wine cave and produces 15 grape varieties, including Grüner Veltliner, Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Tempranillo.”
“Before the vineyard and winery, Stephen and Gloria Reustle owned a successful marketing company based in Philadelphia that taught them the value of providing world-class products to a loyal customer base. However, having a farming background and a love for wine, Stephen had always dreamed of owning a vineyard and winery. Selling their marketing firm, the Reustles moved to the West Coast in hopes of finding an ideal location to start their vineyard. After an extensive search, the Reustles eventually purchased property through a newspaper advertisement for ‘Potential Vineyard Land’ in Oregon’s Umpqua Valley.”
Notable Achievements
“In 2007, Stephen and Gloria began entering their wine in competitions. It wasn’t long before they started to receive medals, many of which included ‘Gold’ and ‘Double Gold.’ In 2015, however, Stephen and Gloria received their most prestigious award yet: Best Syrah of the New World at the 6 Nations Wine Competition. This prestigious wine judging showcases the top 100 wines from each nation…the United States, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, and Chile. Reustle not only claimed the top award for the Syrah category but also secured a tie of second place for its 2012 Syrah Winemaker’s Reserve.”
While Stephen and Gloria are very proud of all their awards, they are especially proud of this one. Stephen told us a great story about how he was invited to Australia to receive these awards. He declined due to his responsibilities at the winery – until the U.S. Ambassador himself called him to insist he come. SOMMJournal also featured Reustle in this article: Rise of Oregon Syrah.
More recently, the Great Northwestern Wine Competition rated the 2021 Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards Green Lizard Grüner Veltliner 99-points and three Platinum Awards! In addition, the 43rd Annual Dan Berger’s Int’l Wine Competition named Reustle the 2023 Small Winery of the Year.
You can read more about Reustle’s history and operations here.
AND, SO, HOW WAS THE TASTING?
This event was fabulous! It was so professional and personable at the same time. I’d say it is one of the best wine education events I have ever attended. Stephen and Gloria Reustle are great people who engaged, educated, and shared with us so much information about all of the wines and the regions they come from. They have their presentation down to a science with wonderful graphics and pictures with side-by-sides of the Umpqua vs. Europe wines, all enhanced by their engaging stories. Stephen included all the facts and figures I like to collect and Gloria engaged with each of us individually. And they offered us amazing discounts on their wines. I would highly recommend this presentation for your wine group.
THE WINES
I have nine wines to present to you today. The first wine was a “pre” wine and not part of the side-by-side comparison. Winery notes come from their websites, slides or handouts, unless otherwise noted. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
Now, for the reviews!
2022 Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards Hefeabzug Estate Selection Grüner Veltliner, Umpqua Valley AVA, Oregon, 13.1% ABV, $36 (#1273)
Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “An earthy note that mixes loam and wet gravel transitions to aromas of chilled Cosmic Crisp apple slices and saline. The wine’s tangy blood orange flavor is joined by traces of lemon verbena and jasmine green tea. Lighter-bodied, with mildly tangy acidity.” — Michael Alberty
My Review: Pale in the glass. A nice nose of honeysuckle and crisp fruits. Pear and apple on the palate with a tart finish. A lingering green bell pepper. March 2024
2022 Alzinger Federspiel Grüner Veltliner, Durnstein, Wachau DAC, Austria, 12% ABV, $33 (#1274)
Wine Enthusiast – 90 points: “Graceful with a mineral crunch adding to the notes of apple and lime, all backed by a firm backbone of acidity. This is a rather delicate example, with nice floral highlights and a sea-salt note, which would all match beautifully with smoked fish.” — Aleks Zecevic
My Review: Light in the glass. Very lean on the nose with delicate white flowers and peppery notes. Almost a rust smell in the glass. Crisp on the palate with yeasty notes. I preferred this wine in the blind tasting. March 2024
2022 Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards Green Lizard Grüner Veltliner, Umpqua Valley AVA, Oregon, 13.1% ABV, $38 (#1275)
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “This is typically one of the better American examples of Grüner Veltliner, and the 2022 vintage is no exception. The Green Lizard’s pear, mandarin orange and earthy daylily aromas combine to create an amaro-like sensation. Flavors include more mandarin oranges, green tea and a burst of white pepper.” — Michael Alberty
My Review: Extremely pale in color. Pear and honeysuckle on the nose. Light on the palate, a bit sweet almost cloying with a light finish. March 2024
2021 Domaine Morey-Coffinet 1er Cru “Morgeot” Burgundy, Chassange-Montrachet, Côte-d’Or, France, 13% ABV, $99 (#1276)
Jasper Morris – 92 points from wine.com: “From Francemont, close to the border with Santenay. A little more depth of colour and nearly as delicious a nose as the Clos St-Jean. This is still a fine rather than a muscular Morgeot, on the raspberry side. On the palate the Morgeot character does assert itself with muscular tannins. Needs longer than Clos St-Jean, and while it will never be as elegant there is good potential here. Drink from 2026-2032.”
My Review: Ruby in the glass. Earth and barnyard on the nose. Lean and hot on the palate with an earthy finish. Bitter. March 2024
2021 Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Noir, Umpqua Valley AVA, Oregon, 13.7% ABV, $48 (#1277)
Wine Enthusiast – 91 points: “A fruit-filled aromatic set features ripe blueberries, smoked blackberries and a trace of tangerine. Tart red raspberries and boysenberries are joined by flavors of orange peel, basil and saline. Grippy tannins and a mildly leathery texture provide a nice framework for all of the fruit”. — Michael Alberty
My Review: Brown-tinged ruby in color. I guessed by color alone that this was the Burgundy – but the palate said otherwise! Smells like California Pinot – cherry on the nose. Tasty palate with enough fruit to be interesting to me. I preferred this wine. March 2024
2021 Dumien Serrette Cornas Patou, Appellation Cornas Protégée, Cru des Côtes du Rhone, France, 13% ABV, $48 (#1278)
Winemaker’s Notes from wine.com: “’Patou’ is the name of the small vineyard parcel located to the south of the village of Cornas. This pure Syrah wine showcases the true soul of Cornas: deeply colored, robustly structured, endlessly satisfying. Black and purple fruits mix with silky tannins and hints of licorice and soy.” 93 points – Jeb Dunnuck
My Review: Dark garnet/purple in the glass. On the nose, it reminds me of a Paso Robles or Napa wine – very grapey. Dry, with lean dark fruit on the palate. March 2024
2021 Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards Winemaker’s Reserve Syrah, Umpqua Valley AVA, Oregon, 13.9% ABV, $48 (#1279)
Wine Enthusiast – 92 points: “This reserve wine’s blueberry and lavender aromas are almost eclipsed by a savory scent of steak sizzling on an outdoor grill. A sturdy wall of tannins supports copious amounts of tart marionberry and raspberry flavors. The additional pork fat and pepper flavors are mouthwatering. Pair with cassoulet or burgers.” — Michael Alberty
My Review: This wine is really dark purple. The bright, “Sweetart” jammy fruit on the nose is balanced by spice and earth. Mouthfilling fruit. I personally had a hard time picking between these 2 Syrahs and in the end picked this one. Our group preferred this wine, as well.March 2024
2020 Cuentaviñas Alomado Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain, 14% ABV, $80 (#1280)
Winery Notes from wine.com: “Alomado refers to the rolling hills or “lomas” that mark the landscape of the Sonsierra Riojana, considered by many to the finest terroir in Rioja for cultivating Tempranillo due to the Atlantic weather, high altitude, and limestone rich soils. Alomado is Eduardo and Carlota’s most Atlantic and accessible interpretation of a field blend planted on the Ábalos side of San Vicente de la Sonsierra.”
My Review: Pretty garnet in the glass. Redder than the other Tempranillo. Mouth-filling, delicious palate with loads of fruit – dark berries dominate. I could drink it every day. Fruitier than the other wine – the group voted for this wine as its favorite. March 2024
2021 Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards Winemaker’s Reserve Tempranillo, Umpqua Valley AVA, Oregon, 13.90% ABV, $48 (#1281)
Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition: “Black cherry, floral. Toffee and molasses. Maple and smokey.”
My Review: Looks leaner in the glass, a dark garnet. Earthier and more alcohol and tannins. This is a big wine – still quite oaky and tannic – it needs more time. These wines were a tough call for me to determine which was my favorite. I assumed this was the Spanish wine and I voted for this wine! March 2024
THE TASTING ROOM
The Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards & Winery Tasting Room is located at 612 Oak Hill Rd., Roseburg, OR 97471 and is open Mon. – Sat. 10AM – 5PM.
“Immerse yourself in the charm of our vineyards and winery. There are multiple ways to experience Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards… checkout upcoming events, schedule tastings, or book a stay on our property. Explore our Estate page and dig deeper into our history and discover what makes this place special. Immerse yourself in the winery grounds where you’ll catch glimpses of Alpacas, Goats and Scottish Highland Cows grazing in our meadows. Traverse our network of hiking trails concluding with panoramic views at the famous Prayer Rock, or enjoy a glass of wine at the dockhouses…where every sip will tell a story.” You can read more about their tasting options here: Reservations.
I would highly recommend visiting Reustle if you are in the Umpqua Valley!
© Decanting Monterey 2024
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