2018 Desert Wind Ruah Red Blend, Wahluke Slope, WA
94 Points, Gold Medal, Seattle Wine Awards
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.
Winemaking Notes
The 2018 growing season started slightly cool in the spring, but quickly gave way to warmer temperatures. Throughout summer, the days were warm and sunny, with little rainfall and above-average heat, providing ideal growing conditions. A slight cooling in September and October gave the grapes some extra time to develop more nuanced characteristics. This blend is composed of several lots that were fermented in a combination of stainless steel tanks and open-top bins, and was aged for 30 months in neutral oak and stainless steel.
Vineyard Notes
The Wahluke Slope AVA is located in south-central Washington and is considered one of the warmer regions in the state. Our 480-acre Desert Wind Vineyard is south-facing, with a gradual two percent slope ranging from 800 to 1,000 feet in elevation. The deep, rocky soil allows for excellent drainage, stressing the vines and allowing focused energy on fruit production. The resulting wines are highly pigmented and have excellent tannin structure.
Desert Wind is an immersive wine, food, and entertainment destination in the heart of Washington Wine Country, dedicated to producing world-class wines that celebrate our estate vineyards in the Wahluke Slope AVA. Our southwest-inspired estate is perched on a bluff overlooking the Yakima River in Prosser, Washington, and boasts a large tasting room, overnight accommodations, light kitchen fare, spa services, and ample private event space. 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.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
I really liked the last case of this. Washington state is producing some terrific wines these days. Great everyday drinker. Complex enough to be interesting; not so complex that you have to sit and mull it over in a smoking jacket in the library.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2018 Desert Wind Ruah Red Blend - $20 = 19.99%
This was one of my reliable go-to reds when I moved to WA state. It does vary each year and my experiences are from 2000s era vintages. But a quality appellation and producer, in my experience.
Lab Rat Report!
I was happy to receive this bottle early, and I was able to enjoy it over a couple of days. I was also happy to see it was a WA wine, since I lived and worked for many years in Walla Walla in the wine biz!
So I will say it was “as dry and dusty as the Wahluke” lol - I make myself laugh - but it was a pretty dry wine, and really opened up a lot over the 2.5 days
First pop and pour it was really tight - lots of black fruit aroma but pretty closed on the palate. A couple hours later it was more full bodied but still wound up - for a 2018 I was surprised, and expected it to be a little more open on the pop and pour. So it’s got some life in it and you can probably hold on to a few if you want.
2nd day it was much more open and enjoyable. I will say, even though I had already read the “blend” (I call it a Wallytage - Syrah and BDX blend) , It really doesn’t have a ‘lane’ - so if you’re looking for a Merlot profile or a Cab profile or a Syrah profile- it’s not that. It’s not muddy, per se, but it is a straight up red blend with no true varietal profile.
I liked it 2nd day the best- it was full of black fruit and drank really full with a long finish. Not much pop or acid but it did finish clean and went really well with our steak phillys. 3rd day, only one glass left, it was still hanging on and hadn’t really mellowed any, maybe a tad faster on the finish but still full of black fruits and good body.
Just got yelled at by the wife for having too much wine but this was one of her favorites. In for two cases and using that sweet $20 Meh coupon for a crazy good deal.
2018 Desert Wind Ruah Red Blend, Wahluke Slope, WA
94 Points, Gold Medal, Seattle Wine Awards
Tasting Notes
Winemaking Notes
Vineyard Notes
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $300/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jan 6 - Wednesday, Jan 8
2018 Desert Wind Ruah Red Blend
6 bottles for $49.99 $8.33/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $79.99 $6.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Previous offers:
4/10/24
11/27/23
3.8/5 on vivino
https://www.vivino.com/US/en/desert-wind-winery-ruah/w/1734944?year=2018#all_reviews
I just finished off the case I purchased in April. Glad to see it back so I can restock and use for our pizza nights and to give some to my neighbors.
$6.67 per bottle?!?! No brainer here! This is a great every day drinker.
I really liked the last case of this. Washington state is producing some terrific wines these days. Great everyday drinker. Complex enough to be interesting; not so complex that you have to sit and mull it over in a smoking jacket in the library.
In for a case.
/giphy exhausted-merry-cranberry
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2018 Desert Wind Ruah Red Blend - $20 = 19.99%
This was one of my reliable go-to reds when I moved to WA state. It does vary each year and my experiences are from 2000s era vintages. But a quality appellation and producer, in my experience.
Case price is ridiculous!
The last deal was one of my favorite daily drinkers. In for a case.
/giphy corny-glorious-snow
Lab Rat Report!
I was happy to receive this bottle early, and I was able to enjoy it over a couple of days. I was also happy to see it was a WA wine, since I lived and worked for many years in Walla Walla in the wine biz!
So I will say it was “as dry and dusty as the Wahluke” lol - I make myself laugh - but it was a pretty dry wine, and really opened up a lot over the 2.5 days
First pop and pour it was really tight - lots of black fruit aroma but pretty closed on the palate. A couple hours later it was more full bodied but still wound up - for a 2018 I was surprised, and expected it to be a little more open on the pop and pour. So it’s got some life in it and you can probably hold on to a few if you want.
2nd day it was much more open and enjoyable. I will say, even though I had already read the “blend” (I call it a Wallytage - Syrah and BDX blend) , It really doesn’t have a ‘lane’ - so if you’re looking for a Merlot profile or a Cab profile or a Syrah profile- it’s not that. It’s not muddy, per se, but it is a straight up red blend with no true varietal profile.
I liked it 2nd day the best- it was full of black fruit and drank really full with a long finish. Not much pop or acid but it did finish clean and went really well with our steak phillys. 3rd day, only one glass left, it was still hanging on and hadn’t really mellowed any, maybe a tad faster on the finish but still full of black fruits and good body.
For the price, this is an easy buy.
Great report!
Didn’t expect to see this one again. Autobuy
/giphy cherished-sappy-falalalala
loved it last time. In for a case. Great daily drinker.
Liked it, in for 12
Struck me as a “no-brainer”. Grabbed a case.
Just got yelled at by the wife for having too much wine but this was one of her favorites. In for two cases and using that sweet $20 Meh coupon for a crazy good deal.
/giphy lovable-angelic-manger
@toddlamp thank you. Can you possibly let us know the code? Thank you!
@Leatherchair @toddlamp same here please
The coupon was for those that bought the meh deal.
@Springbank thank you
It was in an email. Check your junk or spam folder. Stuff like this seems to be the only thing that automatically gets sent to my spam folder.
/giphy pumpkinspiced-spirited-nostalgia
Cases sold out
only 6 packs left
@connorbush annnnnd gone!
I just took a quick peek and said “just bought a case of red” and never looked at the price. Now that I noticed the price, I’m kicking myself.