Klipsun Vineyard Semillon Late Harvest
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Blue cheese, apricot tart, foie gras
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from one of the most prestigious and punishing terroirs in Washington State, the Fidelitas Klipsun Vineyard Semillon Late Harvest is a rare and luxurious expression of Red Mountain. Established in 1984, Klipsun Vineyard is legendary for its fierce winds, intense solar radiation, and well-drained sandy loam soils, which force vines to struggle and produce berries of unmatched concentration. While Red Mountain is globally renowned for its robust red wines, its old-vine Semillon is a hidden treasure. When conditions allow, winemaker Charlie Hoppes coaxes these grapes into a decadent dessert style. The wine showcases the remarkable tension between luscious, honeyed sweetness and the vibrant, structural acidity that defines the Klipsun terroir, resulting in a beautifully balanced late-harvest nectar.
🍾 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
Semillon