WTN: Montelena Blows Away Pichon Lalande

Three wines served with honey-mustard coated grilled rack of lamb.

1986 Ch. Pichon Lalande

This was a huge disappointment. I seem to say this a lot about 1986 Bordeaux. A pretty ruby-purple color with just a hint of some signs of age on rim. The nose had some muted aromas of cigar, leather, licorice and tobacco. The palate was a medium body, pepper, herbs, leather and raspberries. I honestly cannot tell if this will get better. I didn’t get a lot of tannins but this wine just seemed dumb and awkward and blown way by the next wine.


1987 Ch. Montelena Cabernet Estate

Wow!! A home run!! Exotic nose of cassis, spices, berries, leather, cigar, coffee. The palate was a mixture of ripe berry fruit, licorice, coffee and caramel. It showed good tannins, incredible complexity and length. This wine just seemed to last forever on the palate. Just great stuff. Glad I have more. I’m nervous that the newer style Montelena’s can’t ever achieve this – hope I’m wrong.


2001 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Tough to judge after the Montelena but this wine seemed a bit young and tight. Lots of cherry, vanilla, tar and spice on the nose. More cherry, raspberry, spice and chocolate on the palate. This wine had strong acidity and I think will get better as it ages.

sounds like you may have had an off bottle of the PL, I have thoroughly enjoyed several bottles of the 86 over the years, all purchased from Zachy's in Westchester, NY..I have no connection to Zachy's, just commenting on the provenance of my stash. That being said, 85,86 and 87 was a glorious time for Montelena and the 87 may well have been the best of the 3 tho they each were wonderful and very different from one another, the 85 being massive and the 86 being fruit forward and accessible earlier on.

sounds like you may have had an off bottle of the PL, I have thoroughly enjoyed several bottles of the 86 over the years, all purchased from Zachy's in Westchester, NY..I have no connection to Zachy's, just commenting on the provenance of my stash. That being said, 85,86 and 87 was a glorious time for Montelena and the 87 may well have been the best of the 3 tho they each were wonderful and very different from one another, the 85 being massive and the 86 being fruit forward and accessible earlier on.

Jon,

Thanks. I have 2-3 more of the '86 Pichon so I hope at least one of them is better. I did buy some '85 and '86 Bordeaux from a questionable wine shop in Wilmington, MA. that was going out of business at the time so who knows.

Still have a bottle of 87 Montelena, but no more 86 PL.

Do have 1994 of both, though - might be fun to compare (the 94 PL is very presentable indeed, BTW)

I just had an '87 Montelena this weekend, and it was fantastic. I plan on posting notes on my weekend wines.