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
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