Northridge Malbec
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted leg of lamb, rich beef empanadas
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The Fidelitas Northridge Malbec is a striking expression of the Wahluke Slope AVA, sourced from the highly acclaimed Northridge Vineyard. Situated on a broad, south-facing alluvial terrace, this vineyard is defined by its arid, desert-like climate and unique soils composed of wind-blown sand and silt over caliche and gravel. Winemaker Charlie Hoppes utilizes this intense heat and distinct terroir to craft a Malbec of exceptional concentration and structural integrity. While Malbec traditionally played a supporting role in Bordeaux, it has found a dramatic, sun-drenched home in Washington State, where the dramatic diurnal temperature shifts preserve natural acidity while allowing the fruit to achieve optimum ripeness. The resulting wine is a bold, expressive showcase of dark fruit, cocoa, and refined mineral complexity.
🍾 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.