Quintessence Clone 169
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 15 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, braised beef short ribs
✨ Technical Specifications
Nestled on the steep, sun-drenched south-facing slopes of Washington State's acclaimed Red Mountain AVA, the Quintessence Vineyard is a showcase of viticultural precision. Among its prized blocks, Clone 169—a certified French clone originating from Bordeaux—reigns supreme. Fidelitas isolates this specific clone to craft a wine of singular focus and extraordinary depth. The terroir of Red Mountain, characterized by sweeping winds, scarce rainfall, and calcium-carbonate-rich soils, forces the vines to struggle, resulting in tiny, thick-skinned berries. This specific clone is celebrated for its elegant structure, vibrant acidity, and intense dark fruit profile, offering a sophisticated, site-specific expression of Washington Cabernet Sauvignon that beautifully marries Old World structure with New World power.
🍾 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