Notes with recent meals:

1999 Gary Farrell "Russian River Valley" Pinot Noir.
color: pale garnet, quite light in color, with no sign of browning at
the edges
nose: smoke, minerals, cherry fruit and a slight hint of mushrooms
(lovely!)
palate: Bright fruit on entry, rich sense of velvety fruit in the
midpalate with excellent structure and a beautiful finish. There is no
lack of fruit, but it's kept in careful balance by the acidity.

Notes: This is his lowest level bottling from an outstanding vintage.
I last tasted it with Ian Hoare and Lord St. H. during the 2001 afw
field trip to NZ. It has lost none of its polish since then while
gaining a measure of complexity, and should probably continue to drink
beautifully for another few years. To me, this is what New World Pinot
Noir is all about. Served with a dinner of lightly smoked duck breast
with sauteed asparagus and shi'itake mushrooms (the shi'itakes made a
magical combination with the wine).

1999 Chateau St. Martin de la Garrigue Coteaux de Languedoc.
nose: funky, cherry, pepper and gamey notes
palate: medium body, fruity entry, pepper and funky meat, excellent
balance and decent finish with some remaining tannins apparent.

Notes: Purchased at a local retailer for half price (US $9.50 per
bottle), it could pass for a top quality Cotes du Rhone or a medium
weight CdP. No hurry to drink this one -- it should last for another
3-5 years with no problem (and probably improve a bit). This is the low
entry bottling for Ch. St. Martin de la Garrigue, but makes me keen to
lay my hands on some of their "Bronzinelle".

Mark Lipton