Ciel Du Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 15 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
grilled ribeye steak, roasted rack of lamb, braised beef short ribs
✨ Technical Specifications
The Fidelitas Ciel du Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon is a profound tribute to one of the most historic and revered vineyards in Washington State's Red Mountain AVA. Planted in 1975 by pioneer Jim Holmes, the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard—translating to 'Sky of the Horse'—is legendary for its wind-swept, gravelly soils rich in calcium carbonate, deposited millennia ago by the cataclysmic Missoula Floods. Winemaker Charlie Hoppes masterfully coaxes the unique signature of this site into the bottle, showcasing the intense heat and dramatic diurnal temperature shifts of Red Mountain. The wine is characterized by its deep concentration, structured and dusty tannins, and a distinct mineral backbone. Aged primarily in French oak, this Cabernet Sauvignon beautifully marries rich dark fruit flavors with the savory, earthy complexity that has made Ciel du Cheval a benchmark terroir in American viticulture.
🍾 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 Sauvignon