Estate MB Malbec
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted duck, blue cheese.
✨ Technical Specifications
The Fidelitas Estate MB Malbec is a profound expression of the Red Mountain AVA, sourced from specific blocks of the estate vineyard first planted in 2009. Winemaker Charlie Hoppes utilizes the unique, high-desert terroir of Red Mountain—characterized by intense solar radiation, swift wind patterns, and sweeping southwest-facing slopes—to craft a Malbec of exceptional power and concentration. Unlike its Argentine counterparts, Red Mountain Malbec develops thicker skins due to the wind and heat, yielding a wine with deep color, structural integrity, and a distinct mineral edge. The 'MB' designation highlights the estate's dedicated Malbec blocks, where low yields and meticulous canopy management result in a remarkably complex, age-worthy wine that balances rich dark fruit with refined, dusty tannins characteristic of the appellation.
🍾 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
Malbec