Old Vines Merlot
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–12 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, rosemary-infused beef tenderloin
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Fidelitas Old Vines Merlot is a tribute to the deep roots of Washington State viticulture, sourcing fruit from some of the oldest, most respected vineyard tracts in the Columbia Valley, such as the historic blocks of Champoux and Dionysus vineyards. Planted in the late 1970s and early 1980s, these self-rooted ancient vines yield tiny, concentrated berries with thick skins. Winemaker Charlie Hoppes coaxes a remarkably sophisticated expression of Merlot from these sites, balancing the grape's natural plushness with an intense structural backbone and earthy complexity. The wine is typically aged in custom-selected French oak barrels, allowing the dark fruit, cocoa, and refined herbal notes of the old vines to integrate seamlessly with subtle spice.
🍾 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.