导读 2022年1月24日整理发布：聪明的消费者应该像纳帕谷的同行一样欣赏门多西诺县和莱克县的赤霞珠。来自加利福尼亚北部这两个县的高地山谷和山坡与纳帕种植的葡萄酒具有相同的结构和浓度，通常成本只是其中的一小部分。可靠的生产商，如门多西诺县Barra和Paul Dolan，以及莱克县Shannon Ridge和Steele，几乎每年都会生产出90分或更高优秀赤霞珠。它们的售价远低于平均纳帕出租车。
塑造纳帕谷和索诺玛县相同广泛火山构造力量形成了门多西诺及莱克地区。门多西诺享受凉爽晚风，类似沿海种植区，但夏季白天温度可能更高。这两座城镇风土与中央山谷显著不同，中央大部分葡萄酒标记为加州AVAs（美国原产物种保护区）。在标签上看到“Mendocino AVA”、“Mendocino County AVA”或“Lake County AVA”，通常是品质更加丰富、经典表达保证。
来自莱克county的地势较高赤霞珠位于内陆，是加州著名葡萄酒产区之一。它包括18英里长的人工湖——加州第二大淡水体——以及海拔超过4300英尺的小型火山Cobb Mountain。在人工湖南侧，以其品质卓越而闻名的是Red Hills AVA，这个区域以众多、醇厚且价格昂贵瓶装红酒如Black Kite Ranch, Sutter Creek, Spottswoode and Eagle & Crane而知名。
Red Hills上的葡萄藤生长在海拔1350到2600英尺之间，它们生长在微红色的火成岩土壤中，这些土壤养分含量低，并且布满黑色黑曜石碎片及石英晶体碎片。恶劣土壤条件转化为相对较低产量及小果实，这在发酵过程中提供了果皮与果汁比例较高，有助于产生浓郁水果风味以及丰富细腻单宁，有助于陈年的葡萄酒保持良好状态。
价格背后2018年Mendocino county Cabernet Sauvignon每吨平均价格为$2205，而Lake county则略低，为$2061，与全州平均水平$1019相比，都非常之贵。而Napa valley则达到每吨$7925。此外，每一瓶新鲜制成并销售出去所需使用到的那一吨价值相当于瓶子零售价100倍以上，因此对于一个价值$2500/ton即可制造值25美元/bottle；一个价值8000美元/ton就能制作80美元/bottle这样的定价指南来说，在这个领域是准确无误的一个常规指南。在此情况下，那就是他们惊人的负担能力之关键。
寻找六款Cabernet Sauvignon Barra of Mendocino 2017 Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino); $20; 92 points. This is a full-bodied wine with black cherry and blackberry flavors that are rich and lush. It has a solid tannin structure that is well-balanced.
High Valley Vineyard's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (High Valley); $32; 92 points. The fruit flavors in this wine are ripe and juicy, with notes of black cherry, blueberry, and cocoa. The oak aging adds complexity without overpowering the fruit.
McNab Ridge Winery's Family Reserve Lagrein Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino County); $30; 93 points. This is a quiet yet powerful wine that wraps up rich black currant and cranberry flavors in a firm yet smooth texture with fine-grained tannins.
Black Kite Cellars' Half Mile Bench Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Hills); $65; 95 points. This complex yet elegant wine offers aromas of cinnamon, black cherry, and cassis followed by richly saturated flavors of dark plum and chocolate-covered cherries lingering on the finish.
Parducci Wine Cellars' Small Lot Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino); $15; 91 points. A full-bodied wine with concentrated fruit flavors like black cherry and raspberry in its velvety texture. The oak aging adds warmth without intruding into the fruit while maintaining good balance between tannins.
Flowers Vineyards & Winery's Moon Block Ranch Single Vineyard Selection Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast
The wines listed above offer an excellent opportunity to explore the world of red wines at different price levels while enjoying quality comparable to those found in Napa Valley but at lower prices than those commonly seen there
