The Fries family of Duck Pond Cellars fame in Oregon built Desert Wind Winery a decade ago in Prosser as a platform for its extensive plantings on the Wahluke Slope and a showpiece wine country inn for the Yakima Valley. Ruah is their flagship bottling, a proprietary red blend they first created in 1997 as a Left Bank Bordeaux-style from their young estate plantings. With this 2015 vintage, they have branched out to include a significant role for Syrah (18%) among Merlot (32%), Cabernet Sauvignon (24%), Cabernet Franc (14%), Malbec (8%) and Petit Verdot. The record-warm growing season allowed head winemaker Greg Fries to build yummy aromas of sweet cherry, black plum, black currant and clove. Smooth tannins, raspberry acidity and touches of spice surround the flavors of dark Bing cherries and plums with black licorice and milk chocolate.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 5,232 cases
Alcohol: 14%
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