TN: 2001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot (USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma)

[Tony_V_e_l_e_b_i_l]

• 2001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot - USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma (2/11/2010)
  Wow, some very positive recent notes on this in CellarTracker. I am in the minority. Purchased from the winery, stored perfectly and popped and poured last night.

Here are my thoughts, the nose is dominated by sweet oak, dried cherries, chocolate and some alcohol. The palate is an odd mix of cocoa powder, oak, heat, sweet plum and cassis fruit with something very sharp underneath. It was drinkable but far from enjoyable. (82 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

[Steve_Saxon]

@Tony V e l e b i l

• 2001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot - USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma (2/11/2010)
  Wow, some very positive recent notes on this in CellarTracker. I am in the minority. Purchased from the winery, stored perfectly and popped and poured last night.

Here are my thoughts, the nose is dominated by sweet oak, dried cherries, chocolate and some alcohol. The palate is an odd mix of cocoa powder, oak, heat, sweet plum and cassis fruit with something very sharp underneath. It was drinkable but far from enjoyable. (82 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Where’s Bulkin? He loves the 01…

[Tony_V_e_l_e_b_i_l]

Dunno but this bottle didn’t do it for me. I drank one glass, left the bottle open for a few hours and left some wine in the glass to see if it would improve but nope. Too much heat, oak and sweet/sharp for me.

[Bruce_Leiser_owitz]

Obviously, it was suffering from travel shock.

Bruce (TFIC)

[Tony_V_e_l_e_b_i_l]

@Bruce Leiserowitz

Obviously, it was suffering from travel shock.

Bruce (TFIC)

Bruce - that’s gotta be it. It went made the long trip (about 8 feet) from my 56 degree wine cabinet to the coffee table right before I drank it…damn, I knew I should have waited for it to settle down before opening

[John_Liotta]

I still think you scored it higher than I might. The last time I had any of the '01 Pride wine (reds) they were horrendous and undrinkable. I’ll join you in the minority Tony!

[Tony_V_e_l_e_b_i_l]

@John Liotta

I still think you scored it higher than I might. The last time I had any of the '01 Pride wine (reds) they were horrendous and undrinkable. I’ll join you in the minority Tony!

Alright!!! Actually checked CellarTracker and there are some very positive notes from very recently opened bottles. Boy was I mistaken. I actually liked these on release for the rich creamy Bob Foley fruit signature…but no likey now

[Steve_Saxon]

@John Liotta

I still think you scored it higher than I might. The last time I had any of the '01 Pride wine (reds) they were horrendous and undrinkable. I’ll join you in the minority Tony!

I’ve been telling Bulkin that for years, but he loves the 01.

There really seems to be strong opinions about the 01 vintage, lots of people love it.

[Eric_LeVine]

Over time I have found the Merlot to just be too sweet.

[Mo_K_a_n_g]

That is pretty scary. I thought the '01 Merlot was awesome on release. But then again, it could be

1. poor provenance-- did you know that even a few minutes over 55 deg. and you can get nasty bugs churning out stool inside the bottle? Only Parker has perfect provenance.

2. you simply cannot think outside the box

3. you are simply wrong

in all seriousness, I am beginning to understand why some people say “if you like 'em now, drink up.” I have an '02 Cab Franc that I am afraid to open now…

[Jack_Bulkin]

@Steve Saxon

@Tony V e l e b i l

• 2001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot - USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma (2/11/2010)
  Wow, some very positive recent notes on this in CellarTracker. I am in the minority. Purchased from the winery, stored perfectly and popped and poured last night.

Here are my thoughts, the nose is dominated by sweet oak, dried cherries, chocolate and some alcohol. The palate is an odd mix of cocoa powder, oak, heat, sweet plum and cassis fruit with something very sharp underneath. It was drinkable but far from enjoyable. (82 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Where’s Bulkin? He loves the 01…

I like the 01 Cabernet not the Merlot killer, although I recently had an 01 Mountaintop Merlot that was very good.

[Michael_Bowden]

@John Liotta

I still think you scored it higher than I might. The last time I had any of the '01 Pride wine (reds) they were horrendous and undrinkable. I’ll join you in the minority Tony!

Agreed…nothing I want to drink.

[Jeff_Fish]

I bought Pride from the '94-02 vintages, cab and merlot with the occasional cab franc and syrah. So I was and to an extent still a fan and still have a bunch left to drink. I’ve not had any of my '01 merlot yet, so here’s my question. IIRC 2001 was supposedly a good year in Napa (WOTY was their next door neighbor’s merlot . What happened? fruit hung too long, too much new oak, too much/not enough cab blended in, over-acidification, etc? Just curious as to thoughts from those that didn’t like it.

[Eric_LeVine]

@Mo K a n g

in all seriousness, I am beginning to understand why some people say “if you like 'em now, drink up.” I have an '02 Cab Franc that I am afraid to open now…

It will be great. The Franc is terrific with enough edginess to cut past some of the inherent OTT factor that comes with all Pride. Same for me with the Cab, plenty of structure. I just find the Merlot to be the weak link, too darned sweet and candy-bar-esque.