“I think what we are doing is fine tuning things as we go on with time” said Charlie Hoppes. “We know what barrels go best with vineyard lots and this is a process that continues. There are different things that the barrels can add. It is a continuous process.” I fondly remember tasting with him at Fidelitas since they first opened on Red Mountain. My father and I had several voyages over to the region when outposts were emerging at this hallowed spot and I fondly recall talking with Charlie who was so thrilled at his modern tasting room, with a killer outdoor space and sweeping views of the valley. Fast forward more than ten years, I sit at my tasting studio with the new Fidelitas wines — which are some of the best I have ever had from this great house.
The 2018s from Fidelitas have a marvelous sense of place. “I think these are some of the best wines I’ve ever made” said Charlie. “But we can still do better. I think these really have great varietal character that jumps out at me. You see that more with our Malbec but I think with 2018 there is more white pepper and spice that you don’t see every year. 2018 was not 2010 or 2011 where things were cold and not 14 or 15 where things were too warm. This vintage sits right in the middle and on Red Mountain rain we can ripen everything well. I think that makes a big difference. Because of the site we can let them hang a hit and get more phenolic ripeness which is important.”
What I love about all of these wines is that they are obviously quite big but show great finesse. Each wine has a beginning, middle and an end. The length of these wines literally catches you off-guard. Cheers to Charlie and his exquisite set of red wines and here are my reviews of the glorious 2018 Fidelitas red wines (spring 2021 release).
2018 Fidelitas ‘Optu’ Red Wine- Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (67%), for years I have enjoyed this silky blend by the talented Charlie Hoppes. This Red Mountain-based rendition incorporates 20% Merlot as well as 7% Petit Verdot and the remainder Cabernet Franc. Tobacco and tar aromas capture your immediate attention, alongside a rich core of dark fruits, with garrigue tones all taking shape in the glass. The palate is rich, elegant and beautifully textured. Firm tannins hold the ripe boysenberry and black cherry syrup flavors alongside chocolate dusted espresso bean and scorched earth flavors that make this unmistakably Red Mountain. Gorgeous and hedonistic in its youth, this gorgeous new wine will provide drinking enjoyment over the next ten to fifteen years — or more! Drink 2021-2033- 94
2018 Fidelitas ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Mainly sourced from the Quintessence Vineyard (73%), the 2018 ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon needs an hour decant to he fully awoken. Swirl your glass generously and you’ll find creosote aromas that combine with blackberry compote, and Turkish coffee with exotic spices that all meld together beautifully. The palate is big and bold, with velvety tannins and a silky mouthfeel. The structure, hold and richness reminds me of a great Bordeaux from a warm vintage like 2014 or 2015. The length here adds to the enjoyment, as this finishes extremely long with loamy soils, black currants and shades of tar. Sensational in its youth, enjoy this over the next fifteen years and be sure to give this at least an hour in the decanter if enjoying over the next several years. Drink 2021-2035- 94
2018 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from one of the hallowed spots on Red Mountain, the 2018 ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning new bottling by Charlie Hoppes and Fidelitas. The finesse here is outstanding, as is the pillowy texture and sense of weight. Creme de cassis, mocha, tar, anise and sandalwood flavors combine with herbal and earthy tones on the palate. This finishes exceedingly long. What a downright killer Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy young, but this beauty has a long way to go. Drink 2021-2040- 95
2018 Fidelitas ‘Heart of the Hill Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine was aged in 100% new French oak prior to bottling. This is a massive wine with incredible structure and verve. Dense black currants collide with blackberry compote, black cherry cordial and mocha tones on the nose with scorched earth undertones. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a lovely purity of fruit. Like the other wines, the length of the wine adds to the enjoyment. Only an infant now, this gorgeous new 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment for another fifteen to twenty years. Give this at least two hours in the decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2022-2040- 95
2018 Fidelitas ‘Heart of the Hill’ Malbec- Deeply colored in the glass, the 2018 ‘Heart of the Hill’ Malbec is another thrilling release by Fidelitas. Needing an hour in the decanter to be fully expressive, once awoken this yields layers of blue fruits alongside Asian spices, Black Forest Cake and espresso bean tones with tar accents that all take shape in the glass. The palate is soft, round and generous with firm tannins and a massive core of blue and dark fruits that mingle with Turkish coffee and scorched earthy flavors. Rich and chewy, with a gorgeous mouthfeel, this is one of the great examples of Washington Malbec that I have tasted over the past year. Seamless and rich, enjoy this beautiful effort over the next fifteen years. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2018 Fidelitas ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Petit Verdot- A glass-staining purple, the 2018 ‘Ciel du Cheval Vineyard’ Petit Verdot is a thrilling new wine by Fidelitas that shows the great potential of this varietal. Right away the combination of blueberry and green bell pepper point you in the PV direction, as creosote and rich cassis tones also add to the enjoyment. The palate is beautifully structured with vibrant acidity that connects the core of dark fruits with chocolate covered espresso bean and scorched earth flavors. This really needs another two years to fully develop — as I am really impressed with the potential of this beautiful wine. Drink 2023-2037- 94