Founded in 2001 by childhood friends Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts, Arnot-Roberts approaches Cabernet Sauvignon through an old-school lens. While much of California pushed toward higher ripeness and heavy new oak, Arnot-Roberts sought out rugged, high-elevation mountain sites, picking early to preserve structural acidity and utilizing minimal new wood to let the soil do the talking.
Perched at 2,200 feet on Monte Bello Ridge, Fellom Ranch sits directly adjacent to Ridge Vineyards on fractures of Franciscan shale and greenstone—sharing the exact same world-class terroir as the iconic Ridge Monte Bello (which retails for $300+ a bottle). Harvested early to capture natural mountain freshness, the 2022 release is a showcase of power and savory restraint. It opens with intense notes of cassis, wild blueberry, bay leaf, camphor, and dark chocolate. On the palate, concentrated black fruit is framed by firm, architectural tannins, bright natural acidity, and a distinct herbal-mineral lift that will evolve for decades in the cellar.
Critical Acclaim:
94 Points, Wine Advocate:
“ …. comes from vines planted at 2,200 feet in elevation in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Grapes were harvested on September 7, and the wine was matured for 22 months in 10% new French oak. The nose is bursting with aromas of blackcurrant, blueberries, camphor, violet and botanical undertones. The full-bodied palate offers concentrated, nuanced flavors matched by muscular tannins. It’s balanced by bright, juicy acidity and has a long, layered finish.” - Erin Brooks, Sept. 2025
94 Points, Vinous Media:
“The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Fellom Ranch is the most complete of the three Arnot-Roberts Cabernets. It shows the ripeness of the year in its extroverted personality. Black fruit, leather, licorice, chocolate, bay leaf and spice saturate the palate. There is an exotic quality here that is palpable. Savory notes are buried, but in exchange, this will drink well with minimal cellaring.” - Antonio Galloni, Jan. 2025
Why You'll Love It
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Neighbor to a Icon: Shares the legendary Monte Bello Ridge terroir directly adjacent to Ridge Vineyards at a fraction of the price.
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Classic Mountain Cabernet: High-altitude Franciscan shale soils yield structural intensity, brilliant natural acidity, and deep mineral complexity.
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Immensely Ageable: Built with the balance, tannin structure, and acid core required to evolve gracefully in the cellar for 20+ years.
How To Serve It
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Ideal Temperature: Serve at cellaring temperature, 60°F–65°F, in large Bordeaux stems.
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Decanting: Decant for 60–90 minutes to soften its youthful mountain tannins and unlock its complex herbal aromatics.
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Food Pairing: Pair with Bistecca alla Fiorentina, prime ribeye steak, roasted leg of lamb with rosemary, or braised short ribs.