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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2008 and 2012 (based on 16 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 88.1 pts. and median of 88 pts. in 76 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by jenhawk on 10/28/2017 & rated 89 points: Wowza, super nice at 12 years old! (1633 views) | | | Tasted by MarshPDX on 4/18/2013 & rated 88 points: very good (4405 views) | | | Tasted by friezu on 12/14/2012 & rated 90 points: Thought the green notes have faded away and allowed the fruit to stand on its own. Paired with tenderloin steaks in a bleu cheese sauce and went well. (4694 views) | | | Tasted by cabinbor on 8/20/2012: Opened four bottles and two were corked. The remainder did drink very well. (4841 views) | | | Tasted by hiker_guy on 4/28/2012: Found this in the back of my cellar. thought it was gone long ago.
Decent wine that paired well with steaks. Good balance and good fruit. Nice finish. Good QPR.
Would buy again. (4941 views) | | | Tasted by geppetto on 3/22/2012 & rated 90 points: Very nice. Really started to open up after about two hours. I liked this better that the 2006. Drinking very well right now. (4649 views) | | | Tasted by Black Pearl on 10/18/2011 & rated 90 points: Time has settled this wine down nicely. A very good, medium bodied, fruit forward, wash st cab. Ready to drink now, and over the next few years. (2683 views) | | | Tasted by Rivergirl on 8/30/2011 & rated 91 points: full bodied, Hints of dark rich cherries and blackberry fruit with a bit of fennel on the palate. The wine has subtle notes of toasted oak and spice. I really liked this wine for the price and should have bought more. (2487 views) | | | Tasted by maxmanx on 9/19/2010 & rated 91 points: Decanted and then left it in the decanter over night (by mistake). It was excellent the next day. Still lots of fruit with a nice finish. (3365 views) | | | Tasted by Don and Pam on 8/25/2010 & rated 89 points: thought I'd just finish off my supply when it's fresh in my mind. still very good wine. (3334 views) | | | Tasted by Don and Pam on 8/24/2010 & rated 89 points: still has life, very tasty (3314 views) | | | Tasted by df1962 on 8/24/2010 & rated 89 points: PnD (for about 1hr.). Classic claret color. Aromas of cassis plum cedar rosemary and choclate. Got better over the course of the evening and better with food. Very smooth and elegant with flavors of cassis herbs touch of coofee. Fairly long herbalish finish. Nice stuff and in the prime drinking window. (3271 views) | | | Tasted by maxmanx on 8/22/2010 & rated 88 points: Definitely ready to drink, and might be slightly past its prime. No negative notes, but not the fruitiness I remember in the first bottles. (3572 views) | | | Tasted by pope965176 on 8/19/2010: seems to have peaked (3334 views) | | | Tasted by hiker_guy on 5/16/2010: Popped and poured.
After about 30 minutes the nose was very fragrant and full. Chocolate notes with great medium/dark fruit elements.
The pallet is full. There are a few rough edges showing on the attack but they weren't prominent and faded into a nice mid pallet of dark, slightly unripe fruit. Great acids on the finish with a nicely extended finish showing nice tannins. This was a nice wine to accompany a steak. Would buy again. (3496 views) | | | Tasted by Don and Pam on 4/6/2010 & rated 89 points: long finish (3582 views) | | | Tasted by Martin Redmond on 3/14/2010 & rated 86 points: Very nice Bordeaux Blend. Opened a year ago, and it got better. Smooth tannins, balanced. (3724 views) | | | Tasted by friezu on 3/5/2010 & rated 90 points: Very dark purple. I feel like this drank like it was very young - a touch green with berries, almond (oak), and plenty of raspberry and cherry. I know others think this is on the decline, but I'll be opening my next bottle in 2012. (3876 views) | | | Tasted by eyesnwine on 2/8/2010 flawed bottle: corked (3889 views) | | | Tasted by Skully on 1/5/2010 & rated 89 points: What a nice surprise after cellaring for about two years. This wine has definately improved since the first bottle we opened a long time ago. It offers a nice blend of dark fruit with tannins that have smoothed out. Nice wine for the money. (3818 views) | | | Tasted by sichuanpeppercorn on 9/7/2009 & rated 90 points: What a difference some time makes. This bottle had opened up to reveal layers of flavor. Sour cherry, chocolate, tabacco, red and black fruit, spice box all rolled around the palate. Much nicer than the previous times we tasted it. (4075 views) | | | Tasted by 97edwardc on 8/31/2009 & rated 87 points: I feel like this is beginning to fade. Interestingly, it's only an '05 but I feel like I am detecting slight bricking. Still good value at the original $13 purchase price, but I don't think I'll hold onto my remaining 2 for much longer. (4341 views) | | | Tasted by Don and Pam on 8/29/2009 & rated 90 points: deep red fruit bomb. start to finish a wonderful wine and value for dollar. (4063 views) | | | Tasted by wahoo70 on 4/21/2009 & rated 89 points: Lovely red and purple fruit on the nose, especially cherries and plums, with spice notes; rich red and purple fruit flavors, some blueberries, and a little vanilla; nice crunchy tannins, and a good finish, ending with herbal/tobacco notes. Delicious - love those Washington reds. (4367 views) | | | Tasted by familydoc on 3/7/2009 & rated 84 points: My second go around with this after cellaring for one year....I continue to be underwhelmed. Nose: thin nose, cherries with a dusty component but very light (20 minute decant) Taste: thin cherry, the body of this is thicker than it's taste cause the fruit is so thin, more kool-aid fruit, to much heat on the finish, whole group was in agreement, drank over 1 hour to give it a fair shot....did not improve with air for us. (3940 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Benjamin T. Weinberg
Sommelier Journal, October 2009
(Desert Wind Winery Ruah) Full-bodied and rich garnet in color, this Bordeaux blend features a lush core of concentrated blackberry fruit, accented with a hint of anise. Notes of toasted oak and nutty spice complement soft, velvety tannins and a lingering finish Terroir: Wahluke Slope |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Sommelier Journal. (manage subscription channels) |
| Desert Wind Vineyard producer websiteRed Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Wahluke SlopeRed Mountain |
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