Ciel Du Cheval Red
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 15 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, braised beef short ribs
✨ Technical Specifications
The Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, planted in 1975 by pioneer Jim Holmes, is one of the most revered and historic sites in Washington State's Red Mountain AVA. Fidelitas' Ciel du Cheval Red is a masterful tribute to this terroir, where ancient glacial flood soils rich in calcium carbonate and gravel combine with intense desert heat and sweeping winds. Winemaker Charlie Hoppes coaxes incredible depth from this fruit, crafting a classic Bordeaux-style blend known for its signature 'dusty' Red Mountain tannins, rich dark fruit profile, and a distinct mineral backbone. The vineyard's unique microclimate yields grapes with thick skins, resulting in a wine of immense concentration, structure, and complexity that beautifully reflects the rugged elegance of the region.
🍾 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, Merlot, Cabernet Franc