Ciel Du Cheval Cabernet Franc
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, rosemary-rubbed pork tenderloin
✨ Technical Specifications
The Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, first planted in 1975 by pioneer Jim Holmes, is one of the most revered and historic sites in Washington State's Red Mountain AVA. Known for its gravelly, high-calcium soils and intense desert heat, this vineyard produces fruit of remarkable concentration and structural power. Winemaker Charlie Hoppes of Fidelitas masterfully channels this unique terroir into his Ciel du Cheval Cabernet Franc. The wine beautifully balances the grape's classic savory complexity—notably dried herbs, tobacco, and cocoa—with the rich, dark fruit profile and robust, dusty tannins characteristic of Red Mountain. It stands as a sophisticated expression of Washington's ability to craft world-class, age-worthy Cabernet Franc.
🍾 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
Cabernet Franc