Fidelitas
One of the longtime producers on Red Mountain, I want to say that my father and I were some of the first visitors to his modern tasting facility that he launched on Red Mountain.Tasting with Charlie and his son, Will, I noticed the attention to detail and consistency over each wine. Charlie Hoppes served as former head winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle. Prior to working at Chateau Ste. Michelle, he attended the world renowned Viticulture and Enology program at the University of California, Davis and in 1988 he graduated with a degree in Agricultural Science and Management with a special emphasis in Viticulture and Enology. After a brief stint in Walla Walla in 1990 at Waterbrook Winery, he began working with superstar winemaker Mike Januik as a member of the winemaking team at Ste. Michelle in Woodinville. In 1993, he became the Head Red Winemaker and managed Ste. Michelle’s newest facility at the time, Canoe Ridge near Paterson, Washington. Hoppes had the pleasure of making the first vintages of Col Solare, from 1995-1998. After some time, Hoppes wanted to start his own project. Hoppes finally decided to purchase some land on Red Mountain, founding Fidelitas in 2000 -- and has produced fantastic reds and whites since that time. Fidelitas is known for their red and white Bordeaux blends, as well as their rich Cabernets.
I was highly impressed with their range of new release wines. A wine that continues to impress each year is their 2019 Fidelitas ’4040 Red Wine’ (OB, 92) which has plenty of flavor density and chocolate tones. I absolutely love the 2018 Fidenitas ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Malbec (OB, 95) which is one of the great Malbec wines that you will find in the state. This is dense and chewy but also weightless and shows a seamless texture. Learn more about the great Fidelitas lineup at http://www.fidelitaswines.com/ Here are the great new wine releases from Fidelitas.
2019 Fidelitas ‘4040’ Red Wine- A blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (63%) this shows forward and juicy red and dark fruits with tobacco and chocolate undertones. With good freshness and weight, this has another decade ahead of it. Drink 2021-2031- 92
2018 Fidelitas ‘Old Vines’ Merlot- Sourced from the first plantings from the Ciel du Cheval and Kiona Vineyards, the nose takes on red cherry candy and cassis tones alongside sagebrush and milk chocolate undertones on the nose. The palate is silky and elegant with a great sense of texture. Ripe red and dark fruits collide with tobacco leaf and milk chocolate covered raspberry. Drink 2021-2033- 94
2018 Fidelitas ‘Blackwood Canyon’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from this older site on Red Mountain first planted in 1984, the 2018 ‘Blackwood Canyon’ Cabernet Sauvignon opens with kirsch notes alongside smoke, scorched earth and black tea aromatic notes. The palate is soft and smooth with silky and refined tannins. Herbal undertones mark the core of bright dark fruits alongside dark chocolate shavings on the palate. Drink 2021-2033- 93
2018 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Malbec- The 2018 ‘Estate’ Malbec is the first of its kind from this estate vineyard that was planted back in 2015. Blackberry cobbler and blueberry pie combine with coffee ground and violet aromatics. The palate is plush and soft, delivering good flavor density and freshness. Black and blue fruits collide with smoke, minerals and menthol undertones on the palate. This is drinking beautifully right now and has another fifteen years to go. Drink 2021-2035- 94
2018 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Red Wine- The Cabernet Sauvignon dominant ‘Estate’ Red Wine blends a large amount of Petit Verdot (35%) with smaller parts Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. The Petit Verdot jumps out of the glass with its green bell pepper notes alongside a dusting of white pepper and a massive wall of dark fruits with dark floral undertones. The palate is dense and plush but the harmonious effect each working part really makes this sing. Drink 2021-2035- 94
2018 Fidelitas ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Entirely clone 2 and 6 Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off exotic spices and toasty oak on the nose with nutty undertones and a massive wall of dark fruits. The palate is dense and silky with great viscosity and tension. Blackberry compote, mocha, tar and herbal undertones all collide on the palate. Gorgeous and focused now, this has another twenty years to go. Drink 2021-2040- 94
2018 Fidelitas ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Merlot- The 2018 ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Merlot shows off rich cassis and dark cherry aromatics alongside exotic spices. The palate is soft and plush with chewy tannins. Layers of dense dark fruits mingle with tar, minerals and milk chocolate on the palate. Silky and refined tannins, as well as marvelous length, add to the enjoyment. Drink 2021-2038- 94
2018 Fidelitas ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Malbec- Dense and hedonistic, the 2018 Fidelitas ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Malbec is quite simply an astoundingly good rendition of Red Mountain Malbec. Right away this shows off a massive core of dark and blue fruits on the palate with copious minerals and beautiful balance. Full-bodied and heady, yet still showing a weightless quality, this is glorious wine that has another two decades to go. Drink 2021-2040- 95
2018 Fidelitas ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Red Wine- Equal parts Petite Verdot and Cabernet Franc (31% each) mark this beautiful new release from the Quintessence Vineyard. Herbal undertones combine with tar, dark currants and tobacco leaf on the nose. The palate is plush and soft with beautiful balance. Layers of red and dark fruits mingle with chocolate, scorched earth and lighter green bell pepper tones on the palate. Drink 2021-2038- 94
2018 Fidelitas ‘Quintessence Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Fidelitas has been making this wine since 2012. This saw 28 months in 82% new French oak before bottling. The palate is plush and dense with intense exotic spices and black tea notes alongside blackberry cobbler, cassis and tar notes on the palate. The length, flavor density and elegance of the wine is sensational. Try to give this another year of bottle age if you can. Drink 2022-2040- 95
2018 Fidelitas ‘Quintessence Vineyard Clone 169’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 ‘Clone 169’ unveils a gorgeous nose of dark currants alongside tar, tobacco leaf and nutty undertones. The palate is very polished and soft with a beautiful sense of texture. The weightless quality of the wine is really impressive as a massive wall of dark fruits greet you alongside scorched earth, toasty oak and very refined tannins. Glorious now, this has decades of life to go. Drink 2022-2040- 95