Dark red. Black licorice, dark cherry, blackberry purée, mocha, black pepper, and olive tapenade. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with lots of dark fruit, great sweetness, and savory tones. The wine shows beautiful volume and texture and finishes with perfect acidity and remarkable length. Drink now or in the next 10 years.
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 Estate 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.
Wine Making Notes
The 2021 growing season was one of the warmest we’ve had in recent years. With close to 40 days over 100 degrees and very little rainfall all summer, it was certainly a difficult year for grapes. Yields were down between 10-30% in most areas, but what we did get was unmatched in quality. We ended the harvest about two weeks sooner than average due to the high temperatures, and overall, our first harvest under new ownership and with our new winemaking team went by smoothly. We are so pleased with the direction Desert Wind is heading, with an increase in quality, value, and varietal and terroir expression that is evident with the 2021 vintage and beyond. The 2021 Syrah has a portion of Malbec blended in to compliment the dark fruit and savory characteristics of the Syrah. The grapes were fermented in stainless steel and aged in new and neutral oak.
Specs
Composition: 80% Syrah, 20% Malbec
AVA: Wahluke Slope, WA
Aging: 20 months in new and neutral oak
Alcohol: 14.2%
Production: 210 Cases
What’s Included
4-bottles:
4x - 2021 Desert Wind Syrah, Wahluke Slope, Washington
Case:
12x - 2021 Desert Wind Syrah, Wahluke Slope, Washington
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, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
I like the ruah that I’ve had from this winery. How does this compare, I wonder? The price is nice and I love the Wahluke Slope AVA, so this seams like a good deal. The “olive tapenade” isn’t a tasting note I like all that much. But licorice? That sounds good!
@mattykillpatty I like some vegetal and herbal notes but when I hear something green like bell peppers, asparagus, green peppercorn, or green olives / tapenade it makes me think about methoxypyrazine and the flavors of seeds or stems in the wine. Now, that’s usually with Cabernet Sauvignon. I am not personally a big fan when I feel like I can taste that sort of flavor.
Put in the fridge after it arrived to cool down, then decanted for an hour.
Purple but not opaque, a pink hue at the edge. Big fruit on the nose. Initial flavors of plums and blackberry. A bit of soy sauce towards the finish. Stewed fruit and raisin notes. I feel this wine was picked very ripe. Little bit of dark chocolate at the end as well.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2021 Desert Wind Syrah - $20 = 9.51%
2021 Desert Wind Syrah, Wahluke Slope, Washington
Tasting Notes
Vineyard Notes
Wine Making Notes
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$486.00/Case for 12x 2021 Desert Wind Syrah, Wahluke Slope, Washington at Desert Wind Winery
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Mar 16 - Wednesday, Mar 18
2021 Desert Wind Syrah
4 bottles for $69.99 $17.50/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $189.99 $15.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
I like the ruah that I’ve had from this winery. How does this compare, I wonder? The price is nice and I love the Wahluke Slope AVA, so this seams like a good deal. The “olive tapenade” isn’t a tasting note I like all that much. But licorice? That sounds good!
@mattykillpatty
Was just having some of that as an after supper dessert.
@rjquillin nothing says dessert like olives, capers, and garlic!
@mattykillpatty @rjquillin kind of common in some syrah… not dessert but had some on toast for breakfast yesterday, hold the anchovy please.
@mattykillpatty Tempting me as well due to the Ruah. We’ve gone through a couple of cases of it. Waiting for Rats, though.
@lionel47 @mattykillpatty
Also enjoyed the Ruah, and this seems like a decent enough price but it is more than twice as expensive as the Ruah.
@mattykillpatty I like some vegetal and herbal notes but when I hear something green like bell peppers, asparagus, green peppercorn, or green olives / tapenade it makes me think about methoxypyrazine and the flavors of seeds or stems in the wine. Now, that’s usually with Cabernet Sauvignon. I am not personally a big fan when I feel like I can taste that sort of flavor.
You know what, I’m in for a case. It’s a cheap syrah.
@afwaller came in today.
Put in the fridge after it arrived to cool down, then decanted for an hour.
Purple but not opaque, a pink hue at the edge. Big fruit on the nose. Initial flavors of plums and blackberry. A bit of soy sauce towards the finish. Stewed fruit and raisin notes. I feel this wine was picked very ripe. Little bit of dark chocolate at the end as well.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2021 Desert Wind Syrah - $20 = 9.51%
Where are the rats??
I really want this but the lack of rats is concerning. May do the 4 pack at the 11th hour.
@jrbw3 agreed, need at least some rattage
@jrbw3 The 4-pack premium is very low on this one.
I really want to buy this-could someone that has had this wine comment-the lack of rats is troubling