Heart Of The Hill Malbec
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5–12 years from the vintage release, allowing its robust tannins to soften and integrate.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted leg of lamb, gorgonzola cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
Sourced from the esteemed Heart of the Hill Vineyard, nestled in the warm, sun-drenched center of Washington State's Red Mountain AVA, this Malbec is a powerful testament to the region's unique terroir. Planted and farmed by the pioneering Williams family, the vineyard features south-facing slopes and gravelly, calcium-carbonate-rich soils that force the vines to struggle, resulting in small, highly concentrated berries. Winemaker Charlie Hoppes coaxes a remarkably deep, structured, and brooding expression of Malbec from this site. Unlike its softer South American counterparts, the Red Mountain iteration is defined by its intense tannic backbone, vibrant acidity, and rich layers of dark fruit, cocoa, and savory spice, shaped by careful aging in French oak.
🍾 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
Malbec