Cabernet Franc
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–12 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, rosemary-infused roasted pork loin
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Fidelitas Cabernet Franc is a stunning expression of Washington State's acclaimed Red Mountain AVA, where winemaker Charlie Hoppes coaxes remarkable depth and power from this classic Bordeaux variety. While Cabernet Franc is historically used as a blending grape, Red Mountain's unique terroir—characterized by intense south-facing sun exposure, sweeping winds, and low-nutrient sandy loam soils—allows the grape to achieve optimal ripeness and stand proudly on its own. The resulting wine departs from the lighter, highly herbaceous styles of the Loire Valley, instead offering a rich, concentrated profile marked by dark cherry, cocoa, and a refined dusting of dried sage and tobacco leaf. Matured carefully in French oak, this wine beautifully balances Red Mountain's signature structural tannins with the grape's natural, vibrant acidity.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 2000 by acclaimed winemaker Charlie Hoppes, Fidelitas is a premier boutique winery deeply rooted in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington State. With a steadfast focus on crafting exceptional Bordeaux-style blends and single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, the winery sources grapes from some of the region's most prestigious vineyards, including Champoux, Ciel du Cheval, and Quintessence, alongside their own estate plantings. Fidelitas is renowned for its modern, precise winemaking techniques, utilizing carefully selected French and American oak barrels to shape wines of remarkable concentration, structure, and aging potential. Under Hoppes' expert guidance, the estate has become a benchmark producer for Red Mountain, capturing the unique, sun-drenched terroir in every bottle of their signature Optu Red and site-specific Cabernet Sauvignon expressions.