Merlot
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 12 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Grilled lamb chops, roasted duck, rosemary-infused beef tenderloin
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Fidelitas Merlot is a powerful expression of Washington State's celebrated Red Mountain AVA, where winemaker Charlie Hoppes utilizes the region's intense heat and unique terroir to craft a remarkably structured red wine. Unlike the softer, more approachable Merlots of cooler climates, Red Mountain's fierce winds, high diurnal temperature swings, and gravelly, calcium-rich soils force the Merlot grapes to develop thick skins. This results in a wine of deep concentration, robust tannins, and vibrant acidity. Hoppes' deep connection to the Columbia Valley—honed during his tenure at landmark estates like Chateau Ste. Michelle—shines through in this bottling, which showcases the dark fruit, cocoa, and mineral complexity that have made Washington Merlot a world-class contender.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 2000 by acclaimed winemaker Charlie Hoppes, Fidelitas is a premier boutique winery deeply rooted in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington State. With a steadfast focus on crafting exceptional Bordeaux-style blends and single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, the winery sources grapes from some of the region's most prestigious vineyards, including Champoux, Ciel du Cheval, and Quintessence, alongside their own estate plantings. Fidelitas is renowned for its modern, precise winemaking techniques, utilizing carefully selected French and American oak barrels to shape wines of remarkable concentration, structure, and aging potential. Under Hoppes' expert guidance, the estate has become a benchmark producer for Red Mountain, capturing the unique, sun-drenched terroir in every bottle of their signature Optu Red and site-specific Cabernet Sauvignon expressions.