Quintessence Clone 191
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from the vintage release, with the structure to cellar for 20 years or more under ideal conditions.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted rosemary lamb chops, braised beef short ribs
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The Fidelitas Quintessence Clone 191 Cabernet Sauvignon is a masterclass in clonal selection and terroir expression from the rugged, sun-drenched slopes of the Red Mountain AVA. Sourced from the acclaimed Quintessence Vineyard, which climbs the steep, southwest-facing elevations of the appellation, this wine highlights UC Davis Clone 191—a Cabernet Sauvignon clone of French origin celebrated for producing remarkably small berries with thick skins. This results in an incredibly concentrated wine with deep color, intense structural tannins, and rich dark fruit characteristics. Winemaker Charlie Hoppes utilizes precise, modern techniques and aging in premium French oak barrels to tame the powerful Red Mountain tannins, creating a sophisticated single-clone bottling that showcases how specific genetic selections thrive in Washington's unique desert-like microclimate.
🍾 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.