Winery - Fidelitas
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A 62% Cab/38% Merlot blend with a dark side. Winemaker Charlie Hoppes goes after the licorice/smoke/tar/toast elements, but matches them to perfectly ripe fruit that is balanced with acid and tannin. Alcohol comes in at a sensible 14.1%, proving that big wines need not be hot and raisiny. Drink this one young.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
All barrel-fermented in used French oak. This is an elegant sipping wine, and the Semillon shows fig and green plum flavors; it’s much less herbal than Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a gentle white, not oaky but hinting at toast, and persistent in an appealing style. Perfect for halibut and other seafood; nice with sushi for sure.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The Champoux is muscular, supple and laced with flavors of earth, iron filings, hints of tobacco and dark cherry fruits. It is the deepest and most concentrated of the Fidélitas lineup, with more substance and weight.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The Optu blends grapes from Conner-Lee, Stillwater, Klipsun, Red Mountain vineyard and a bit of old vine Cabernet from Gamache—all excellent sites. It’s two thirds Cabernet, the rest mostly Merlot with 4% Cab Franc. Some nice sweet blackberry and black cherry fruit sails up from the glass; there is a touch of coffee/espresso in the nose also. It’s a very pretty wine, accessible and balanced, with light fruit, nicely ripened but with an elegant, feminine personality.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from old vines. I love the purity of this wine, the way it captures the elegance and the Cabernet character that is so important, particularly the black olive and light herb. It seems to be the right combination of New World ripeness and French varietal character; and it comes in at a modest 13.5% alcohol. Sturdy and tart, displaying cranberry and strawberry fruit, lightly spiced with pepper, it finishes with the tannins showing dry, green tea flavors.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Rich straw-gold, it already is showing signs of oxidation, with scents of wheat, clover, lemon and apple. Rich, round and full-bodied, this drink-now wine offers citrus fruits, figs and melon, with a lovely ripeness.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Great vineyard sources (Gamache, Klipsun) start things right, and this pureblooded, 100% Cab, though pushed to the point of showing some volatile high tones, compensates with saturated flavors of ripe berries, complemented with buttery oak. The silky finish can’t help but win your heart.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Sweet and tangy, with clean, pretty cherry and blackberry fruit. This is nicely balanced, with the oak pulled back a bit and the fruit taking the spotlight. A young, supple, silky and well-crafted 100% varietal Merlot.
Tags:
Fidelitas Merlot - 2003
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A fine example of pure, varietal, Columbia Valley Sémillon, this is like liquid honey, without the sweetness. It’s more like the essence of honey flavor, coating the mix of peach, pear and fig fruits. Smooth as silk, supple and soft, it’s a lovely effort.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A white Bordeaux blend of 56% Gamache vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and 44% Stillwater Creek Sémillon. This is sleek and spicy, with a fresh mouthfeel. The juicy acidity supports flavors of lime, lemon and grapefruit, with a slight toastiness kicking in on the finish.
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