The 2009 Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard offers up darker fruits including black cherry and black raspberry as well as some structure. Succulent on the palate, this lengthy effort is likely to have a positive evolution of 1-2 years. Raptor Ridge was able to move into their new winery facility just in time for the 2010 harvest. In the interim, their 2009s offer a fair reflection of that vintage. www.raptorridge.com

My favorite of the collection is the 2008 Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard. It is medium ruby red with an exceptionally perfumed nose of cherry blossom, Asian spices, incense, smoke, black cherry, and black raspberry. On the palate it sports outstanding volume and intensity of fruit, incipient complexity, a velvety texture, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Give it 3-4 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2013 to 2023. When I visited in August, 2010, Raptor Ridge was completing construction of their new winery, hopefully in time for the 2010 harvest. I also tasted a 2008 Pinot Noir Meredith Mitchell Vineyard, but it was too herbaceous and tannic to recommend. www.raptorridge.com

The 2007 Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard is, as usual, large in scale for the vintage. It features the dark fruit side of the spectrum (black cherry and black raspberry), solid depth, savory flavors, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. It will drink well through 2017. Tel. (503) 887-5595; www.raptorridge.com