Malbec
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, blue cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
In the arid, sun-drenched landscape of Washington's Red Mountain AVA, Malbec finds an unexpectedly dramatic expression. While traditionally utilized as a blending grape in Bordeaux, winemaker Charlie Hoppes elevates this varietal into a powerful, standalone showcase of the region's intense terroir. The extreme diurnal temperature swings and sweeping winds of Red Mountain stress the vines, forcing them to produce small, thick-skinned berries. This results in a Malbec of remarkable concentration, boasting deep purple hues, savory complexity, and a muscular tannic structure that sets it apart from its softer South American counterparts. It is a testament to the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest, capturing the essence of the ancient Missoula Floods' soils in every glass.
🍾 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