Quintessence Cabernet Sauvignon
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 15 years from the vintage release, as its formidable structure softens beautifully with age.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted rack of lamb, braised beef short ribs
✨ Technical Specifications
The Quintessence Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Fidelitas represents a masterclass in Red Mountain terroir. Situated on the steep, south-facing slopes of Washington State's smallest and warmest AVA, the Quintessence Vineyard is celebrated for its gravelly, calcium carbonate-rich soils. Here, the vines endure intense daytime heat, tempered by cool evening winds cascading down the Yakima Valley. This dramatic diurnal shift allows the grapes to develop thick skins, yielding a Cabernet Sauvignon of remarkable concentration, deep color, and robust, dusty tannins. Under the skilled hand of winemaker Charlie Hoppes, this wine is crafted to showcase the raw power and structural elegance of the site, utilizing premium French oak to refine its bold profile of dark currants, black cherry, and crushed stone minerality. It stands as a testament to the world-class potential of Washington Cabernet.
🍾 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
Cabernet Sauvignon