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
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 Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc