Shafer Vineyards Relentless Napa Valley Syrah Petite Sirah 2018

98 Points                                                                                 Limited new release from Shafer! 98 Points Jeb Dunnuck:  "A blend of 94% Syrah and 6% Petite Sirah, the 2018 Relentless looks to be just about sensational, offering a dense purple color as well as rich, loaded notes of blackberries, currants, smoked meats, peppery spice, and violets. Reminding me of a great Cornas on steroids with its gamy, exotic character paired with beautiful richness, it has fabulous purity, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. This will undoubtedly be a great vintage for this cuvée, and my money is on it being one of the best yet." 95 Points Antonio Galloni:  " The 2018 Relentless is silky and polished. In 2018 the blend includes a relatively high percentage of Petit Syrah, but the wine does not taste like that at all. Ripe red/purplish berry fruit, lavender, rose petal, black pepper and sweet spice are laced into the super-expressive finish. This might be the most refined Relentless ever." 94 Points Robert Parker: "Deep purple-black colored, the 2018 Relentless is a barrel-sample blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Petite Sirah. It sings of crushed black cherries, mulberries and black plums plus cracked pepper, garrigue, lavender, Indian spices and licorice hints. The palate is full-bodied, firm, spicy and energetic with rounded tannins and a long, peppery finish." 94 Points Wine Spectator: "Deep and powerfully built, with a rich and polished texture that highlights wild berry and blueberry flavors that show notes of espresso, smoky beef and black pepper. Finishes with big but refined tannins. Syrah and Petite Sirah. Drink now through 2030. " 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."

Save