WTN: Fidelitas on Red Mountain

[Jenise]

We paid a visit to Fidelitas winery, long a favorite of the friends we travelled with, where in the past I've found the wines too oaked for my tastes.

2019 Fidelitas Optu Red Mountain Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend
Only 13% alcohol but seems hotter, perhaps because at this moment in time the semillon, a one-third minority, is the more prominent of the two grapes. Rich, ripe and tropical with mango and pineapple.

2013 Fidelitas Optu Red Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend
73% Cabernet, 17% merlot, the rest CF and malbec. The oak has integrated more than I thought it would, and there's a wonderful streak of vitamin-rich minerality. My favorite of the reds poured.

2017 Fidelitas Cabernet Sauvignon Quintessence Red Mountain
'Quintessence' is a Red Mountain vineyard prized for depth and spiciness.
Sure showed in this wine: balanced intensity, tons of blackberry fruit, nutmeg and clove spice. 50% new French oak.

2018 Fidelitas Malbec Red Mountain
Five vineyard blend, very fresh after the toasty merlot with floral, perfumed nose on raspberry fruit.

2017 Fidelitas Merlot Red Mountain
A four-vineyard blend fermented in both French and American oaks. Toast flavor dominates the fruit which is thinner than I expected. No wonder the pourer exclaimed, "I love this with barbecue!" That's probably the only way to make use of it.

Yes, their wines tend to have a bit too much everything, although some of their single vineyard cabs can be nice with some age to tone down the oak and fruit.

[Jenise]

Yes, their wines tend to have a bit too much everything, although some of their single vineyard cabs can be nice with some age to tone down the oak and fruit.

I bought a '10 cab to find out what they're like later on, and that would be a vintage with a lot of structure. Otherwise, definitely too full-figured for me. I was almost surprised given their reputation and what I remember from the Woodinville tasting room about four years ago that none of the wines they served us were 100% new oak.