聪明的消费者如何发现门多西诺县和莱克县赤霞珠的美妙，正如他们在纳帕谷中寻找一样？来自加利福尼亚北部这两个县高地山谷和山坡的葡萄酒，与纳帕种植的葡萄酒具有相同的结构和浓度，但通常成本只是其中的一小部分。可靠生产商，如门多西诺县Barra和Paul Dolan，以及莱克县Shannon Ridge和Steele，每年几乎都会生产出90分或更高的优秀赤霞珠，这些价格远低于平均纳帕出租车。
这些地区与中央山谷不同，其风土形成了门多西诺和莱克县独特的地理环境。门多西诺享受凉爽晚风，类似于大部分沿海种植区，但夏季白天温度可能更高。此外，来自莱克县海拔较高、品质卓越赤霞珠，是加州葡萄酒产区中的一个重要组成部分。
红山AVAC以其丰富且价格昂贵的瓶装知名，其中包括黑曜石岭、索尔胭脂、斯波托以及鹰与马。这些葡萄藤生长在微红色火山土壤中，该土壤养分含量低，并布满黑色黑曜石及石英晶体碎片。这导致相对较低产量、小浆果，这在发酵过程中提供了更多果皮与果汁，从而产生浓郁水果风味以及丰富细腻单宁，有助于更好地陈年。
2018年，门多西诺赤霞珠每吨平均价格为2,205美元，而莱克县略低，为2,061美元，与全州平均水平1,019美元相比，它们非常高。而且，一般来说，以每吨7,925美元销售价计算得出的纳帕葡萄种植者的平均售价是很显著不同的。
事实证明，对加州葡萄酒定价常用公式：一吨公平价值约等于它制成的一瓶零售价格100倍。这意味着，如果一瓶产品价值25美元，那么一吨原料将花费2500美元；如果一瓶产品价值80美元，那么一吨原料将花费8000美元。在这种情况下，该公式对于了解三个区域惊人的负担能力至关重要。
以下是一些编辑推荐：
Barra of Mendocino 2017 Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino); $20, 92 points. This is a wide-ranging and rich wine made from organically grown grapes. It presents flavors of black currant and blackberry with full-bodied texture and good grip. The tannins are moderate in this well-structured wine that can fill a large frame with lush fruit while adding subtle spice and woodsmoke nuances to each sip.
Greenwood Vineyards 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Greenwood); $32, 92 points. The fruit flavors are approachable in this full-bodied wine that feels almost irresistible. It soaks up the ripe blackberry, blueberry and chocolate flavors like new oak barrels molded it without becoming overly oaky. Best until 2023 - JG
McNab Ridge 2015 Family Reserve La Gloria Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino County); $30, 93 points. This is a quiet yet robust wine that envelops rich black cherry and cranberry flavors in firm yet smooth texture with fine-grained tannins for a satisfying depth along with an aging potential trade-off on the finish palate feel.
Best until 2025 - Editor's Choice - JG
Black Stallion Winery Half Mile Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Hills Appellation); $65,95 points: A layering-rich complex refined wine that captivates one from its initial scents of cinnamon clove black cherry to the abundant saturated flavor profile of lingering five-spice plum notes One layer warm softening tannin wraps around taste buds as delicate hints of raspberry and cocoa appear upon repeated sips before lingering in aftertaste In all Hungarian Kadar barrels aged for eighteen months till maturity by the end of thirty years-old cellar selection —JG
