A bold and unctuous wine that's come into its own with tremendous layers of blackberry, dark fruit, and cherry, with thick layers of cedar, tobacco, and earth, lacking perhaps the concomitant complexity one might expect with so much density and sweet ripe tannins. A fantastic finish of 45 seconds or more with a wonderful mouthfeel. Definitely hitting its stride. We have 1 more and can't wait to see what it does in a year or two.
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Still a little tannic but ready to go after a few hours in bottle. Close to peak drinking. Pretty typical big blue/red Hobbs fruit with elegant backing of cigar tobacco and espresso. Finish is pure cassis liqueur. Still has 7-10 years.
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Really good stuff, decanted 90 min, fantastic nose knew this would be good. On the palate, perfect mix of red/ black fruit, tannins perfectly integrated.
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The most muscular wine of the night, this is probably 2-4 years from its peak. Massive layers of fruit and texture coat the palate. The Stagecoach wines to me need about 10 years minimum to show their best. The 2001 Hobbs SC is only about a year or so into its prim drinking window. This 2003 however is drinking like a fine, riper vintage of La Mission Haut-Brion. Color: Almost opaque, the dark core graded out to a vibrant claret like edge Nose & Palate: The nose was dense, and filled with scorched earth, blackberry, licorice, cedar, black cherry and sweet oak. The palate was equally dense, with an unctuous texture; medium and very ripe tannin and a long, long 1+minute finish. Hard to not make this my WOTN but I know it can get better.
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Decanted for one hour plus Vinturi. Dark purple in the glass. Ripe blackberries and vanilla on the nose. Initial burst of Blackcurrants unfolding into a silky mid palate and firm tannins. Great effort in a tough vintage
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Decanted 2.5 hours. Purple/dark garnet in the glass. Nice, full nose of dark fruits, tobacco and vanilla. Mouth of dark fruits and cocoa with soft tannins kicking in on the finish. Could have scored a bit higher but was a flabby on the finish. Drink.
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Wine Spectator Grand Tasting (Marriott Hotel, San Francisco, CA): Excellent effort from great Stagecoach Vineyard fruit. Big cab, bursting with flavors/aromas of licorice, red raspberry, blackberry, currant, menthol and chocolate. Big, bold tannins. Nice depth and complexity. Long, lingering finish.
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6/17/2018 - bhrubin Likes this wine: 95 Points
A bold and unctuous wine that's come into its own with tremendous layers of blackberry, dark fruit, and cherry, with thick layers of cedar, tobacco, and earth, lacking perhaps the concomitant complexity one might expect with so much density and sweet ripe tannins. A fantastic finish of 45 seconds or more with a wonderful mouthfeel. Definitely hitting its stride. We have 1 more and can't wait to see what it does in a year or two.
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8/14/2016 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 95 Points
Still a little tannic but ready to go after a few hours in bottle. Close to peak drinking. Pretty typical big blue/red Hobbs fruit with elegant backing of cigar tobacco and espresso. Finish is pure cassis liqueur. Still has 7-10 years.
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7/10/2015 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really good stuff, decanted 90 min, fantastic nose knew this would be good. On the palate, perfect mix of red/ black fruit, tannins perfectly integrated.
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1/5/2013 - tkoby11 Likes this wine: 95 Points
The most muscular wine of the night, this is probably 2-4 years from its peak. Massive layers of fruit and texture coat the palate. The Stagecoach wines to me need about 10 years minimum to show their best. The 2001 Hobbs SC is only about a year or so into its prim drinking window. This 2003 however is drinking like a fine, riper vintage of La Mission Haut-Brion.
Color: Almost opaque, the dark core graded out to a vibrant claret like edge
Nose & Palate: The nose was dense, and filled with scorched earth, blackberry, licorice, cedar, black cherry and sweet oak. The palate was equally dense, with an unctuous texture; medium and very ripe tannin and a long, long 1+minute finish. Hard to not make this my WOTN but I know it can get better.
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9/16/2012 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION Likes this wine: 94 Points
Sweeter and lighter than expected. Not as concentrated as the Beckstoffer’s. Nice fruit and spice. Still a baby.
See more detail at
http://maximumsatisfaction.tumblr.com/post/31667573551
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12/4/2010 - ptelgenh wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for one hour plus Vinturi. Dark purple in the glass. Ripe blackberries and vanilla on the nose. Initial burst of Blackcurrants unfolding into a silky mid palate and firm tannins. Great effort in a tough vintage
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1/16/2010 - Taylor56 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 2.5 hours. Purple/dark garnet in the glass. Nice, full nose of dark fruits, tobacco and vanilla. Mouth of dark fruits and cocoa with soft tannins kicking in on the finish. Could have scored a bit higher but was a flabby on the finish. Drink.
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7/16/2007 - bdenuyl wrote: 91 Points
A nice cab, with moderate richness and good balance, but not worth the price. It wasn’t any better than the regular bottling.
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10/20/2006 - winefool wrote: 94 Points
WS California Wine Experience Napa Valley Cabernet Tasting (San Francisco Marriott): Full opaque black/purple. Medium forward aroma of clean black fruit. Big rich blackcurrant fruit with nice bracing acidity. Clean and round with a little less overripe concentration.
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10/19/2006 - GolferChris wrote: 95 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tasting (Marriott Hotel, San Francisco, CA): Excellent effort from great Stagecoach Vineyard fruit. Big cab, bursting with flavors/aromas of licorice, red raspberry, blackberry, currant, menthol and chocolate. Big, bold tannins. Nice depth and complexity. Long, lingering finish.
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