95 Points Limited new release from Shafer! previous vintage 96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Checking in as a blend of 89% Syrah and 11% Petit Sirah, the Syrah Relentless is a killer bottle of wine that offers decadent notes of blackcurrants, barbecued meats, seaweed wrapper, lavender, exotic pepper, and liquid smoke. This is a rich, unctuous Rhône inspired blend that packs serious amounts of fruit and richness, yet the elegant, forward style of the vintage keeps it silky, polished and incredibly drinkable. While I haven't had every vintage of this cuvee (it was first made in 1999), my money is on this being up with the top handful of vintages. It's a blockbuster today (if you’re oak adverse, give bottles 2-3 years) but will keep for two decades." previous vintage 95 Points Antonio Galloni: "Shafer's 2014 Relentless is fabulous. The most expressive and varietally expressive of the three vintages of Relentless I tasted. In 2014, Relentless has 11% Petite Sirah, which, along with the personality of the year, kicks up the aromatics and flavors in a meaningful way. Lavender, mint, violets and crème de cassis notes are laced into the super-expressive finish. The 2014 is shaping up to be a real gem." Robert Parker: "...Year in year out, this is one of the superstar wineries, not only in Napa Valley and all of California, but in the entire world. It’s the product of visionary John Shafer, who started in 1978 after a successful corporate career. He had the foresight and visionary genius to believe in the microclimates and soils of Stags Leap of the southern Napa Valley. When his son Doug came on board with their brilliant winemaker and Mr. Everything, Elias Fernandez, things soared in quality and diversity. Today, this is a winery that does everything about as perfect as can be."
Jonathan Wall
Gooey tar, graphite, tight dark berries. Better the 2nd night. And even though it is too tight and young, it was still a smooth drinker... just needs years to hit potential. Makes me want to open an older bottle.
Gooey tar, graphite, tight dark berries. Better the 2nd night. And even though it is too tight and young, it was still a smooth drinker... just needs years to hit potential. Makes me want to open an older bottle.
9.3Henry Fuseler
6/2022. Big, bold and full of flavor. Shader reds are so good. Good year too, 2015. Mr. Friendly’s
6/2022. Big, bold and full of flavor. Shader reds are so good. Good year too, 2015. Mr. Friendly’s
9.4Raul Puga
Delicious
Delicious
9.4Ethan Karas
Prettyyyy good.
Prettyyyy good.
9.3Mark Farrell
Inky purple in color with an aromatic nose of blackberry, tar, smoke, and chalk. Full-bodied wine with excellent balance. Full of fruit on the palate, but with enough acidity to keep it from being cloying. Finish is nice at around 30 seconds or more.
Inky purple in color with an aromatic nose of blackberry, tar, smoke, and chalk. Full-bodied wine with excellent balance. Full of fruit on the palate, but with enough acidity to keep it from being cloying. Finish is nice at around 30 seconds or more.
9.4Raul Puga
Sooooo Smooth!!!
Sooooo Smooth!!!
9.3Brian Reams
Young. But dope. Reallllly tight nose but slowly opened up.
Young. But dope. Reallllly tight nose but slowly opened up.
9.3Mark Turner
Surprised at this one. More earthy and more oak than typical. Less fruit forward . Lacked that typical Shafer depth. Hoping it was just an off bottle. Still good, just not great.
Surprised at this one. More earthy and more oak than typical. Less fruit forward . Lacked that typical Shafer depth. Hoping it was just an off bottle. Still good, just not great.
8.5WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.