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. Itâs 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 Windâs 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. Weâve 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 âas dry and dusty as the Wahlukeâ 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 itâs 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 âblendâ (I call it a Wallytage - Syrah and BDX blend) , It really doesnât have a âlaneâ - so if youâre looking for a Merlot profile or a Cab profile or a Syrah profile- itâs not that. Itâs 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 hadnât 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.
My wife and I recently enjoyed the Desert Wind 2018 from Washington State, and it was quite an experience! This medium ruby blend of Merlot, Syrah, Cab S, and small amounts of others. Initially, the wine had a strong alcohol presence, so we decided to let it breathe for a couple of days.
On Friday, we paired the wine with a charcuterie board and pumpkin ravioli. By Sunday, after breathing, the wine had opened up beautifully, revealing sweeter notes of vanilla and caramel(my wife said caramel, I thought vanilla). We paired it with a delicious picanha steak seasoned with smoked salt and garlic butter confit. The wine complemented the meal perfectly, especially with foods that had some fat content.
Overall, we found Desert Wind 2018 to be an enjoyable table wine that truly benefits from breathing. Itâs a versatile choice that pairs well with a variety of dishes, particularly those with some richness.
Buehler? Buehler? Anybody have a shipping notice on these? I have to believe that my tracking number is invalid at this point and that a new label will be printed when it is actually going to ship.
Same thing happened with another recent order. A label was printed and still shows in my UPS app as âshipment ready for UPSâ, but there was a new label printed days later and I received that package over a week ago. But the label for this package was printed 13 days ago, soâŠ?
@chipgreen UPS My Choice shows shipping label printed on 12-20 (same as you) but nothing has happened. Casemates shows the order as still processing - maybe Casemates is holding shipments over the holiday period?
@chipgreen@ctmariner if memory serves, some of these Washington offers get shipped directly from the winery rather than going through the WCC warehouse. If the winery is doing the packing then itâs highly likely they took a week or two off over Christmas.
@ctmariner@klezman@winedavid59
Except that the label printed on 12/20 lists WCC in Sonoma as the shipper. Last time this happened, WCC printed a label on 12/14, then another one for the same package on 12/17. Package arrived on 12/21 and the original label from 12/14 still shows âShipment ready for UPSâ in my UPS app. I wish they would cancel or recall unused labels. It just adds to the confusion when I have several packages in the pipeline and am trying to sort through tracking for each of them.
But maybe it was printed in error by WCC staff, not realizing that it will be shipped from WA? Whatever the case, I selected an access point to deliver it to, so now it says âon the wayâ when it is clearly not on the way. Plus I now have 2 B.S. tracking numbers clogging up my tracking list.
And donât even get me started on the UPS ânext-day airâ rat bottle that should have been delivered today! More about that at midnight, since I have no wine to taste.
These are great. My case arrived yesterday and while I normally give them a day to settle, I decided to open one for dinner. It was very good yesterday. Complex, interesting, plums, dark berries, leather, etc. I typically taste a bottle of wine over a couple days and todayâŠitâs delicious. Smooth, rounder flavor, nice finish. Two thumbs up. Today, I taste the 93 points.
2018 Desert Wind Ruah Red Blend, Wahluke Slope, WA
94 Points, Gold Medal, Seattle Wine Awards
Tasting Notes
Winemaking Notes
Vineyard Notes
Specs
Whatâs 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 âas dry and dusty as the Wahlukeâ 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 itâs 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 âblendâ (I call it a Wallytage - Syrah and BDX blend) , It really doesnât have a âlaneâ - so if youâre looking for a Merlot profile or a Cab profile or a Syrah profile- itâs not that. Itâs 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 hadnât 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!
Didnât 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 âno-brainerâ. 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
@Leatherchair @MIquaffer @toddlamp code is tied to the account usually, so of no use.
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 âjust bought a case of redâ and never looked at the price. Now that I noticed the price, Iâm kicking myself.
Regarding the meh coupon when did people receive it? Not anywhere in my email that I can findâŠ
@gtcharlie I ordered the wine on the 11th and got the coupon on the 14th.
@toddlamp thanks not anywhere in my email. will drop them a note.
@gtcharlie @toddlamp @PaleMongo found coupon code from 12/11 in my spam folder today 12/17
@gtcharlie Try TRYCASEMATES.
@gtcharlie @rpstrong I ordered Cheer and the coupon doesnât work. I think it will be activated in 2025!
No coupon here either
@PaleMongo it came from support@meh.com
@PaleMongo Try: TRYCASEMATES
I hit post yesterday but it didnât go through
My wife and I recently enjoyed the Desert Wind 2018 from Washington State, and it was quite an experience! This medium ruby blend of Merlot, Syrah, Cab S, and small amounts of others. Initially, the wine had a strong alcohol presence, so we decided to let it breathe for a couple of days.
On Friday, we paired the wine with a charcuterie board and pumpkin ravioli. By Sunday, after breathing, the wine had opened up beautifully, revealing sweeter notes of vanilla and caramel(my wife said caramel, I thought vanilla). We paired it with a delicious picanha steak seasoned with smoked salt and garlic butter confit. The wine complemented the meal perfectly, especially with foods that had some fat content.
Overall, we found Desert Wind 2018 to be an enjoyable table wine that truly benefits from breathing. Itâs a versatile choice that pairs well with a variety of dishes, particularly those with some richness.
I knew I shouldâve bought it the first night!
@winedavid59
Shipping label printed 12-20 but not yet shipped? According to UPS.
Buehler? Buehler? Anybody have a shipping notice on these? I have to believe that my tracking number is invalid at this point and that a new label will be printed when it is actually going to ship.
Same thing happened with another recent order. A label was printed and still shows in my UPS app as âshipment ready for UPSâ, but there was a new label printed days later and I received that package over a week ago. But the label for this package was printed 13 days ago, soâŠ?
@chipgreen UPS My Choice shows shipping label printed on 12-20 (same as you) but nothing has happened. Casemates shows the order as still processing - maybe Casemates is holding shipments over the holiday period?
@chipgreen @ctmariner if memory serves, some of these Washington offers get shipped directly from the winery rather than going through the WCC warehouse. If the winery is doing the packing then itâs highly likely they took a week or two off over Christmas.
@ctmariner @klezman @winedavid59
Except that the label printed on 12/20 lists WCC in Sonoma as the shipper. Last time this happened, WCC printed a label on 12/14, then another one for the same package on 12/17. Package arrived on 12/21 and the original label from 12/14 still shows âShipment ready for UPSâ in my UPS app. I wish they would cancel or recall unused labels. It just adds to the confusion when I have several packages in the pipeline and am trying to sort through tracking for each of them.
But maybe it was printed in error by WCC staff, not realizing that it will be shipped from WA? Whatever the case, I selected an access point to deliver it to, so now it says âon the wayâ when it is clearly not on the way. Plus I now have 2 B.S. tracking numbers clogging up my tracking list.
And donât even get me started on the UPS ânext-day airâ rat bottle that should have been delivered today! More about that at midnight, since I have no wine to taste.
@chipgreen @ctmariner @Winedavid59 yeah, UPS can definitely be a pain.
@ctmariner @klezman @Winedavid59
Doesnât help when the shipper is creating multiple labels for individual packages!
@chipgreen @ctmariner @klezman @Winedavid59
finally, a tracking number and shipping notice
âat pickupâ
These are great. My case arrived yesterday and while I normally give them a day to settle, I decided to open one for dinner. It was very good yesterday. Complex, interesting, plums, dark berries, leather, etc. I typically taste a bottle of wine over a couple days and todayâŠitâs delicious. Smooth, rounder flavor, nice finish. Two thumbs up. Today, I taste the 93 points.