Wine Enthusiast Magazine: California Cab Sauv without Napa Prices? Try Mendocino and Lake Counties

Sol Rouge was mentioned in an article about alternatives to high priced Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines (see below)

High-elevation Cabernets from Lake County

BY JIM GORDON

Just north of Napa County, Lake County is landlocked and high in elevation for a California wine region. It includes the 18-mile-long Clear Lake, the second-largest natural body of freshwater in California, and Mount Konocti, a dormant volcano that rises to more than 4,300 feet.

On the south side of Clear Lake, the Red Hills AVA has a reputation for high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon. This region is home to many top-rated, full-bodied and higher-priced bottlings like those of Obsidian Ridge, Sol Rouge, Spoto and Hawk and Horse.

Vines in the Red Hills are planted at between 1,350 and 2,600 feet in elevation. They grow in reddish volcanic soil that’s low in nutrients and studded with shards of black obsidian and quartz crystals. The poor soil conditions translate to relatively low yields and small berries, which provides a high ratio of skins to juice during fermentation. This causes dense fruit flavors to develop, as well as rich, fine-grained tannins that help the wines age well.

Clear Lake in Lake County/Getty