1995 Pahlmeyer - 2001 Ch Montelena - 2004 Schrader and Friends

Nancy_Dolce · June 18, 2009, 6:21am

Just back from a very enjoyable evening at the Marine Room in La Jolla. Those wines in the subject above and a 2006 Vouvray off the list were enjoyed with Jack and Chase Bulkin (was that Jack’s grandson or son as he claims?), Otto and Mel Dobre and surprise visitor from Paso… none other than the irrepressible Linda Baehr.

All of the wines performed admirably. The focus was on friendship, conversation, the lovely ocean waves, and food that exceeded our expectations. Pahlmeyer was a bit muted at first but opened up with great fruit and a velvet mouthfeel. Next up was the Shrader. Luscious with a sweet finish. The young Montelena showed dark fruit and some tar. Fine tannins on the finish. Will save the rest of the stash for at least five years. Patience!

Oh, Chase is a clone of his dad! Very handsome and charming. Chase didn’t have any wine, but loved the scallops and the ice cream!

Cris_Whetstone · June 18, 2009, 6:23am

There’s a fun group. Bulkin, Otto, The Irish Italians and Leenda. Sounds like enough fun I almost forgive you guys for slaying the Montelena toddler.

larry_schaffer · June 18, 2009, 6:25am

Nancy,

Wasn’t the 01 Monty the one that was supposed to have TCA issues according to JL? I’ve yet to come across any notes here or on other boards saying anyone else had experienced this - wondered if your bottle was okay or ‘muted’ in any way . . .

Cheers!

Nancy_Dolce · June 18, 2009, 6:36am

Larry, we discussed the JL issue tonight briefly. No such. It was a toddler like Cris says, but oh such a wonderful youngster. Wish I picked up 6 instead of only 3 as futures way back.

Crazy group but fun for a school night!

Otto_Dobre · June 18, 2009, 6:55am

Ok here’s my take. We all had a terrific time, it was about friends having a good time together. It was great meeting Leendahhh, can’t wait to visit her in Paso. Chase is definitely Jack’s son, he sure likes to grab onto a skirt…Bulkin trademark, and adorable to boot, must be from the other side!

The food was at least for me surprisingly delicious, my carpaccio and scallos were delicious, the desserts and my Tokaji, not quite up to par, but who cares, the conversation was great.

The wines: first off the list some 06 Vouvray, not bad but not special. The the 95 Palhmayer started out with a bit of funny barnyrad but with lots of air it was just superb, very easy to drink. The combination of nice fruit, not over the top, integrated tannins, and food made this the clear winner for me. Absolutely outstanding, though it needs some serious swirlling to blow off the touch of funk. 95+ points

Next was my 04 Schrader CCS and I really had high hopes for this one. Decanted at home, nose was superb. At the restaurant, the wine, at least for me was a dissapointment. Lots of burnt sugar on the nose and on the palate. Sweet, way to sweet. Hard to drink other than a sip here and there. Folks I’m not downlaying my wine for modesty purposes, you just can’t drink somethink like that, take a sip, great but no more. 85 points

Last was Nancy’s 01 Montelena Estate, and the wine was a winner. A most correct Cabernet. The only reason it did not take 1st for me is the tannins, this baby needs at least 5 more years to come out and play. But it has the fruit, the structure and it is the real deal. 94 points now more to come.

Happy Birthday Chase!!!

Otto

John_Webber · June 18, 2009, 1:24pm

The 95 Pahlmeyer was a star at the last Flannery Fest. It was in top company and showed in top form. A great wine that I wish I would have discovered sooner.

Steve_Saxon · June 18, 2009, 1:31pm

Not only was it great at FF, but thanks to Jordan I had a bottle last week in Vermont. There was not much difference between the 2 and one was a 750 and the other a mag.

Jack_Bulkin · June 18, 2009, 1:44pm

My first post here in a while, I’m sure my bashing was missed.
It was great to meet the yeast wrangler and see my good friends Otto and Mel and Nancy and Sal. We all got a good chuckle about Todd’s fondness for my Son/Grandson debate.
The wines were very nice. The Pahlmeyer has a touch of brett that Linda correctly identified that was not excessive. It had secondary nuances that increased and were pleasureable.
The Schrader was very calm and not as expressive as I expected. The 01 Monty was excellent. Many people know of my belief that JLis a joke. This wine reveals that the only taint from that tasting was his palate.
Food excellent, company better. Thanks for the Bday gifts for my Leggo man Otto and Mel. More for Grand Pop to clean up.

zachary_l_a_n_g · June 18, 2009, 1:46pm

This past weekend was the third time I’ve had the 95 Pahlmeyer and loved it everytime. It needs some time to blow that barnyard stuff away, but once that’s gone, it’s just a fantastic bottle!

Steve_Saxon · June 18, 2009, 1:49pm

Funny, the mag we had in Dallas was a pop and pour and it was drinking great from the get go.

Jeff_Twersky · June 18, 2009, 2:02pm

Love that '95 Pahmeyer. Thanks for youns the notes. Good to hear that the Monty wasn’t tainted.

Ken_V · June 18, 2009, 2:25pm

Wow, between the people and the wines I sure wish I could have been at this one!

I have read a few people who think they’ve had problems with the 01 Monty, but not many. I LOVE this wine. It might be the best since the 1991. I own a lot of this wine (including mags I picked up for $128!), so I’d be happy to share as it starts to come around.

Rich_Stahmer · June 18, 2009, 2:51pm

I’ve had the 2001 Montelena Estate 4 times since release. All from 750ml bottles. Three were excellent and one was flawed, badly flawed. I had the flawed one at an offline on the upper west side of manhattan a few years ago. It was organized by somebody on another wine board. Maybe some of the other participants are on this board now and remember it.
Seeing as how any winery is subject to cork taint once in a while, I’m not convinced it was as big a disaster as some have made it out to be.
I have a case of 750’s and 2 mags left so I’ll be checking in on it from time to time.

Daniel_McIntosh · June 18, 2009, 3:31pm

Just checked my cellar… I’ve got 2 each of the 94 and 95 Pahls left out of my original 6 each. I bought these on release when I was living in New Hampshire for less than $35.00. If I had known then what I know now I would have bought a lot more. I recently had a taste of a later vintage, maybe it was the 2004, and, to be kind, it was in a very awkward place. Not much in common with the 94 and 95 which have always been outstanding.

Linda_Baehr · June 18, 2009, 3:43pm

The wines were terrific (thanks to everyone who brought them), but the best thing about last evening was the great company. [d_sunny.gif]

Ken_V · June 20, 2009, 3:16pm

Rich, was that the tasting that Bill Lawrence organized? That one had multiple tables. At our table, the 01 was not corked.

Rich_Stahmer · June 20, 2009, 5:37pm

No, it was at a small italian place. I think it was called La Grolla. I was at the big tasting Bill organized too. I think I brought a 1996 that night. Now that you mention it, we probably opened numerous '01’s that night and I don’t remember anybody complaining about bad bottles.

Michael_Malinoski · June 20, 2009, 6:04pm

I’ve been fortunate to drink 22 bottles of Montelena Estate across 18 different vintages over the past 2 or 3 years and only one bottle was corked (1988). I did have one 1998 Calistoga Cuvee that was corked, though. The one bottle of 2001 (from 375 ml) was from this past April and it was in perfect shape.

On the '95 Pahlmeyer, I have had it now from magnum and 750 and just for my taste, the magnum was definitely more enjoyable for my palate.

-Michael