Quintessence Red
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, braised beef short ribs
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Sourced from the sun-drenched, south-facing slopes of the famed Quintessence Vineyard on Red Mountain, the Fidelitas Quintessence Red is a masterful expression of one of Washington State's most prestigious terroirs. Established on fractured basalt and gravelly soils, this vineyard experiences intense daytime heat followed by cool desert nights, a diurnal shift that coaxes out concentrated dark fruit flavors while preserving vital acidity. Winemaker Charlie Hoppes utilizes this fruit to craft a bold, structured red blend that pays homage to the power and elegance of Red Mountain. The wine undergoes meticulous fermentation and is aged in custom-selected French oak barrels, resulting in a seamless integration of robust tannins, rich cocoa notes, and deep blackberry layers that represent the pinnacle of modern Washington winemaking.
🍾 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.