Champoux Vineyard Block One Cabernet Sauvignon
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 8–20 years from vintage release, allowing the dense structure and old-vine tannins to beautifully integrate.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted rack of lamb, braised beef short ribs
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from one of Washington State’s most sacred viticultural sites, the Fidelitas Champoux Vineyard Block One Cabernet Sauvignon is a liquid tribute to Pacific Northwest wine history. Block One represents the oldest block of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, originally planted on its own roots in 1972 by pioneer Don Mercer. Under the stewardship of legendary grower Paul Champoux and later a consortium of top winemakers, this block has achieved mythical status. Winemaker Charlie Hoppes coaxes unparalleled depth from these ancient, gnarly vines. The terroir of Champoux Vineyard—characterized by wind-swept, silty loam soils and dramatic diurnal temperature shifts—yields fruit of incredible concentration, refined tannins, and elegant acidity. Aged primarily in French oak, this wine showcases the power, complexity, and structural integrity that only old-vine Washington Cabernet can deliver.
🍾 About the Producer
Fidélitas was founded in 2000 by veteran Washington winemaker Charlie Hoppes, formerly the head red winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle. Joined by his son Will Hoppes, the winery embodies an unyielding dedication to Bordeaux grape varieties cultivated exclusively within Washington State's prestigious Red Mountain AVA. Situated on warm, southwest-facing slopes, the region's intense sunlight, fierce winds, poor gravelly loam soils, and profound diurnal temperature fluctuations foster thick-skinned berries with formidable concentration and natural acidity. The estate vineyard, first planted in 2008 and farmed sustainably with Sustainable WA certification, is complemented by premier fruit partnerships with iconic sites such as Ciel du Cheval and Quintessence. Winemaking employs micro-lot fermentations in oak and neutral barrels, yielding structured, deeply expressive wines. The estate's benchmark portfolio is anchored by the flagship Optu Red and Optu White blends, vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignons, and varietal Malbecs.
🍇 Grapes
100% Cabernet Sauvignon