聪明的消费者如何像欣赏纳帕谷的同行一样发现门多西诺县和莱克县赤霞珠的美妙？来自加利福尼亚北部这两个县高地山谷和山坡葡萄酒，与纳帕种植的葡萄酒在结构和浓度上具有相同特点，但通常成本远低于前者。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，价格远低于平均纳帕标准。这些地区的地理环境与中央山谷不同，中央山谷的大部分葡萄酒被简单标记为加州AVAs。在标签上看到门多西诺 AVA、门多西诺县 AVA 或莱克县 AVA 通常是品质更丰富、经典表达保证。
来自莱克 county 的高海拔赤霞珠 莱克 county 位于纳帕 valley 以北，内陆，是加州著名产区之一。它包括18英里长的Clear Lake（加州第二大天然淡水湖）及海拔超过4,300英尺的休眠火山Mount Konocti。在Clear Lake南侧，Red Hills AVA以其优质赤霞珠闻名，该地区拥有许多高品质、高价位瓶装，如Black Starr Ranch、Sorelle、Spottswoode 和 Duckhorn。这片土地上的葡萄藤生长在1,350到2,600英尺之间，它们生长在微红色的火山土壤中，这种土壤养分含量较低，并且布满了黑色黑曜石和石英晶体碎片。恶劣土壤条件转化为相对较低产量的小果实，在发酵过程中提供了高比例果皮与果汁，从而产生浓郁水果风味以及丰富细腻单宁，有助于陈年的好处。
价格背后的故事 2018年门多西诺赤霞珠每吨平均价格为$2,205，而莱克county略低，为$2,061，与全州平均水平$1,019相比，都非常之贵。而与此同时，纳帕 valley 的每吨平均售价达到$7,925。
这些数据反映了独立农场主Andy Beckstoffer最初推广的一种模式。他说，一吨葡萄公允价值约等于用它制成一瓶零售价$.100倍，因此，每吨$2,500相当于每瓶$.25，而每吨$8,000则相当于$.80的事实证明，这个公式总体上准确，是加州葡萄酒定价常见指南。在Mendocino and Cabernet Sauvignon的情况下，这是他们惊人的负担能力关键。
寻找六款Cabernet Sauvignon Barra of Mendocino 2017 Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino); $20; 92 points. A rich and full-bodied wine with a wide range of flavors from black cherry to chocolate. It presents a dense texture with good grip and moderate tannins. The fruit is ripe and abundant while the wood adds subtle differences in nuances that enhance each sip.
High Valley Vineyard's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (High Valley); $32; 92 points. This wine's fruit flavors are appealing and its texture smooth making it hard to resist. It permeates mature blackberry blueberry and cocoa notes feeling shaped by new oak without becoming too oaky. Best until 2023 - JG McNab Ridge's Family Reserve Lago di Monticello Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino County); $30; 93 points.
This is a quiet yet powerful wine enveloping rich black cherry plum flavors in solid but smooth texture with fine-grained tannins filling out the body pleasantly offering depth satisfaction along with polished finish potential for trade off feel best until 2025 - JG Black Starr Ranch Half Mile Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Hills); $65;95 points.
This complex yet refined wine captivates from initial aromas of cinnamon black currant cherries through rich saturated flavor profile lingering five-spice lychee aftertaste One layer warm gentle tannin wraps around taste buds as subtle hints of dark raspberry chocolate appear on repeated sips lingers in aftertaste aging well up to2030 cellar selection —JG Parducci Small Lot Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino County); $15;91 points Rich concentrated fruit flavor round texture this full-bodied red delivers intense compacted color scheme of black cherry plum.
The sharpness of oak won't intrude while single-layered tannin balance well maintained fills the palate finely.Buy now —JG Shooting Star Vineyards' Single Barrel Select Red Wine Blend & Varietals(Leakey County)($16,$91points).
No matter how you look at it this silky-textured wine is generous fruity deep no over-oaking or harsh edges it offers an abundance of fresh dark berry mixed berries dried apricot sensations balanced acidity makes every sip enjoyable even better when served alongside your favorite meal at home enjoy now —JG
