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地区，生产出的葡萄酒与纳帕种植的葡萄酒具有相同或更高的地质结构、浓度以及通常成本只是其中的一小部分。可靠的生产商，如门多西诺县的Barra和Paul Dolan，以及莱克县的Shannon Ridge和Steele，都几乎每年都会生产出90分或更高质量赤霞珠，这些产品价格远低于平均纳帕出租车。
塑造门多西诺和莱克县独特风土的是中央山谷不同的大火山构造力量形成。门多西诺享受凉爽晚风，类似于加州大部分沿海种植区，但夏季白天温度可能更高。此外，两地拥有丰富的地质特色，比如红山 AVA，以其品质卓越而著称。
在清湖南侧，红山以其优良品质赤霞珠闻名，该地区拥有许多瓶装酒，如黑曜石岭、索尔胭脂、 斯波托和鹰与马。这一区域葡萄藤生长在海拔1,350到2,600英尺之间，其微红色的火山土壤养分含量较低，并且布满了黑色黑曜石碎片。恶劣土壤条件转化为相对较低产量，小浆果，这在发酵过程中提供了高比例果皮与果汁，从而产生了浓郁水果风味以及丰富细腻单宁，有助于葡萄酒陈年。
价格背后的故事显示，在2018年，每吨门多西诺赤霞珠平均售价为$2,205，而莱克县则略低，为$2,061，与州平均水平$1,019相比，这两者都非常昂贵。而此时，一瓶拿破仑级别的心脏切片（Heart of Darkness）赤霞珠可以达到数千美元。在这种情况下，如何从这些价值连城之物中找到六款令人印象深刻但价格合理（即便如此，也是极具挑战性的）的赤霞珠呢？
以下是一些编辑选择：
Barra of Mendocino 2017 Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino); $20; 92 points. A wide-ranging and richly flavored wine from organically grown grapes with a balance of black currant and blackberry flavors. The tannins are moderate and the texture is smooth.
Greenwood Vineyard's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Greenwood); $32; 92 points. This wine has a pleasant fruit flavor and silky texture that makes it hard to resist. It fills the palate with flavors of ripe blackberries, blueberries, and cocoa while feeling shaped by new oak without becoming too oaky.
McNab Ridge Winery's Family Reserve Lago di Monticello Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino County); $30; 93 points. A quiet but powerful wine that wraps up intense black cherry and elderberry flavors in a firm yet smooth texture with fine-grained tannins.
Blackbird Vineyards' Half Mile Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Mountain); $65; 95 points. This complex yet elegant wine is captivating from its initial aromas of spice, black currant, and cherry to its full-bodied flavors and lingering five-spice plum finish.
Parducci Wine Cellars' Small Lot Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino County); $15;
The dense fruit flavor and round texture make this full-bodied wine taste like an intense concordance of dark berries such as cherries or raspberries. The wood notes are not intrusive while the tannins are balanced well for good drinking now through at least until the end
