Oregon's Shea Vineyard has been the source for many delicious Pinot Noirs from the likes of Ken Wright and others who live and work near the vineyard. One's sense of rational thought might be questioned to think that a winery two hours north of Los Angeles should be leasing a vineyard in Oregon, and shipping the fruit to California in refrigerated reefer trucks, but that is just what Elaine and Manfred Krankl are doing in order to satisfy their masochistic need to produce world-class Pinot Noir from a cool climate region. The 1998 Veiled Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard is outstanding. It reveals the vintage's strengths in its medium ruby color, attractive, sweet, plum, rose petal, black cherry fruit, and smoky-scented nose. Medium-bodied with outstanding concentration and sweetness in the mid-palate, elegance and balance, this wine should improve nicely over the next 3-4 years, and last for 7-8. Tel. (805) 649-8901; Fax (805) 640-1230

Medium, dullish red. Slightly reduced nose combines black raspberry, roasted cherry, woodsmoke, coffee, smoked meat and a vegetal hint. Lush, thick and sweet, with complex, slightly meaty flavors lifted by cherry fruit and mint and nicely supported by a firm spine. This was initially dominated by inviting scents of burnished wood, but with extended aeration showed a stronger, fresher fruit component without losing its sweetness or shape. Old World-styled Oregon pinot.