Put together Red Mountain fruit and an excellent winemaker such as Charlie Hoppes and what do you get? A slice of Fidelitas heaven in a glass. Or two.

On a recent trip to Red Mountain, we stopped at Fidelitas Wines, had a great chat (as always) with Charlie and tasted through his stellar line-up of red wines. As usual, we loved them all. But two in particular resonated with our palates.

2009 Fidelitas Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Ciel du Cheval Vineyard

A beautiful rich red color with aromas of cherry and strawberry were the first things we noticed about this standout wine. The texture, the balance, the elegance were next. This is one silky, rich sip of velvety smooth, with a long, striking finish. According to Charlie’s tasting notes:

“Aromas of red cherry, ripe strawberry, and spice tones leap from the glass. Currant, dark cherry, tomato stem, and coffee flavors swirl through the palate, set in fine grained tannins.”

The beauty of this 100% Cab Sauv stems from the grapes from the warm slopes of one of the oldest vineyards on Red Mountain. This is a perfect special-occasion wine, ideal for the holiday season. But only 310 cases were produced, so don’t wait until next month to purchase a bottle or two.

2010 Fidelitas Cabernet Franc Red Mountain Ciel du Cheval Vineyard

When you think of Cabernet Franc, it’s probably in the context of a blending wine that adds more complexity to the robust Cabernet Sauvignon, or adds more structure to the softer Merlot. Indeed, Cab Franc is one of the main varieties in Bordeaux-style blends.

But regular readers of this blog know that we adore Cabernet Franc as a single varietal, a purebred. And this beauty — 100% Cab Franc — showcases the true expression of the wine, with complex aromas of cherry and berry, with notes of herbs, spices, chocolate and cedar.

The 2010 production is the second vintage from Fidelitas and the only varietal Cab Franc from the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. According to Charlie’s tasting notes:

“The wine is a deep ruby tone, nearly opaque, showing aromas of blueberry, tart cherry, green bell peppers, and a hint of salted caramel. Tart yet balanced acids on the palate lift flavors of cranberry and dried thyme. Soft tannins carry a bright and lively, lingering finish.”

We heart Cab Franc, and this is one of the best we’ve tasted this year.

As big fans of Fidelitas, we were delighted to hear about the opening of a tasting room in Woodinville. We highly recommend you stop by there or at the Red Mountain winery, and taste Charlie’s wines for yourself.

There’s a reason why he was named Winemaker of the Year 2013 by Seattle Magazine‘s Washington Wine Awards.

Cheers!