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
Established in 2000 by veteran Washington winemaker Charlie Hoppes, Fidelitas is an artisanal winery dedicated to showcasing the distinct terroir of the Red Mountain AVA in Washington State. True to the Latin meaning of its name—faithfulness—the estate adheres to a philosophy of unwavering fidelity to grape varietal and vineyard character. Sourcing fruit from premier sites such as Quintessence, Ciel du Cheval, and the Fidelitas Estate Vineyard, the winery utilizes precise small-lot fermentation and focused oak aging. Fidelitas is celebrated for its powerful, structured, and age-worthy Bordeaux-style reds, most notably its acclaimed single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, Malbec, and signature Optu Red blend.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Cabernet Franc