Desert Wine Ruah Red Blend

Tasting notes & discussion 53

94 Points, Gold Medal (Seattle Wine Awards)

Typically $25/bottle from Desert Wind Winery
Vintage 2018 from the Wahluke Slope
Available for AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; NC; NE; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TX; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY
Sold by participating winery or licensee, fulfilled by Wine Country Connect

About Desert Wind Winery: “Desert Wind’s legacy and acclaimed wines are rooted in family and our sun soaked Wahluke Slope AVA estate vineyard. Our philosophy on winemaking is simple: Start with grapes that show terrific potential and craft smooth, friendly, world-class wines you can drink every day. We’ve grown a lot since our first vines were planted in 1993, but one thing remains the same - our commitment to creating experiences that bring people together.”

The Desert Wind

TASTING NOTES: “Medium ruby in color, the 2018 Ruah has aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice, mocha, and a violet lift. The wine opens to darker notes of currant, dark cherry, wild herbs, tobacco leaf, and menthol. This bright, mid-bodied and harmonious blend showcases energy and balance, with intense red and black fruit flavors and a creamy, rounded mid palate. It’s a perfect combination of sweet and savory and finishes long with just a touch of wood spice.” (AbV 13.9%, pH 3.7, TA 5.8 g/L)

VARIETALS: 40% Merlot, 33% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Carmenere, 4% Tempranillo, 4% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot.

BARRELS: 30 months in neutral oak and stainless steel.

PAIRS WITH: N/A

THAT REMINDS ME OF: Khamsin.

For fifty days in the Spring (and in the Fall for some areas), a wind storm passes over Northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It picks up sand and dust from the deserts and throws it all over the region. Gives the world an orangish tint. That also causes the temperature to go up significantly, as much as 36 degrees in 2 hours. Which is even crazier compounded with the fact that the winds can move at over 80 miles per hour. Not a fun time.

Good news is it only lasts a few hours at a time, though. And during that 50 day period, it rarely happens twice a week.

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I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating, and it gets everywhere-

I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating, and it gets everywhere-

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