Estate CS412 Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 412
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, rosemary-braised short ribs
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted from the estate vineyard in Washington's acclaimed Red Mountain AVA, this wine highlights the distinct characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 412. Planted in the sun-drenched, wind-swept soils of the estate, Clone 412 is celebrated for its ability to produce wines of deep color, intense dark fruit aromas, and refined structural elegance. Winemaker Charlie Hoppes utilizes the unique, high-diurnal temperature shifts of Red Mountain to coax out thick skins and concentrated flavors from the grapes. The resulting wine is a powerful yet sophisticated expression of the terroir, showcasing the synergy between modern Washington winemaking and classic French clonal selection. It is aged in premium French oak barrels to seamlessly integrate its robust tannins and complex mineral undertones.
🍾 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