I bought Mme. Isaac Pereire last spring from Roses Unlimited and I have not seen a single bud.

MIP has been no issue for me for bloom in zone 3 (protected of course) but it is grafted and even then I believe it took at least two seasons before I saw a bloom because it was a low grade to start - about 6 winters in the ground so far and never missed blooming after the second growing season (of course numbers small up here).

EC on the other hand has been a challenge for bloom and winter comeback having me wonder that yes maybe the two are related but over the generations they seem to depart somewhat in behavior making variations in clones for me believable (mine are both Pickering).

My second try at Ernst is still weak after it's second winter but this year is probably the best potential for a bloom. I got none in the first year and none after 4 seasons in the ground for the first try - that one was eventually shoveled. Again though MIP no problem.

Ahhhh shoot I have to correct myself, Ernst does have buds here already which is good news meaning my first one was a loser - it happens sometimes in my opinion (my amelia gaveraux sp is a fourth try saga and still failure this spring - and a rugosa of all things and probably the first rose that has beat me).

The new EC is planted 3 feet away from the original spot used for try one.

I'm in zone 6b also, but midcontinental. In my experience, MEC is a spectacular, huge, VERY floriferous rose. But, it needs a few seasons to build up the big structure needed to put out all those blooms. This is only the second season in the ground for my MIP, but it bloomed its heart out anyway on very little plant. Actually, it bloomed some last year too. With MEC, I got no blooms the first season in the ground, and 1 or 2 buds that spoiled the second season. It put on tons of growth that year, then a HUGE flush in the third season. Tons more growth, then another huge flush in its fourth season.

It is the most fragrant rose in my garden by far (even more than MIP). The downside is that those massive flushes seem to stress the plant. It needs spraying and generous amendments in my garden. Before those huge flushes, a prettier plant could hardly be found - the burgundy new growth is more prominent than with most other roses - stays around for a long time, like Westerland. Another downside - the blooms spoil somewhat easily. I won't lie, I've struggled with whether to keep it or not, but definitely not for lack of bloom. It's proving not to be a low maintenance rose as it matures. And it's gigantic, so when it's good it's breathtaking, but when it's looking sickly it can't fail to be noticed. I'm hoping reducing it to a more manageable size might help.

Both MEC and MIP were healthy 2 year plants when I put them in the ground (from a TX ebay seller and ARE, respectively).

Rick,
If my memory serves me correct, I don't think Mme. Ernest did much for me the following spring after planting either. I feel like I remember being disappointed that there was only one or two blooms. If you've had none, I can imagine you are very disappointed! Hopefully, you will get some late blooms.
Remy