Sharing a fence line with Ridge Monte Bello, Fellom Ranch Vineyard is another historic property in this part of the Santa Cruz Mountains that has long produced world-class, long-lived Cabernet Sauvignon of distinction. Ian Brand gets fruit from two old, east and north facing blocks planted in 1980 and 1982 to a historic Beringer selection or “clone”. Wanting to highlight the aromatic intensity and vitality of this old vine Cabernet grown on limestone soils, Ian ages his Fellom Ranch Cab in a large format Austrian Stockinger cask. The wine is so fine and detailed yet subtly powerful at the same time. Bright, lifted, aromatic red and black fruit. Crushed rock minerals, hints of camphor, sagebrush, leather and leafy tobacco. Enjoyable young because of the refined tannins, but clearly a wine that will age decades in the cellar if you have patience.