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Shafer Vineyards Relentless Napa Valley Syrah Petite Sirah 2016
I’ve consistently loved the Relentless cuvée from this team, which is always from a single vineyard and is Syrah-dominated, with about 10% Petite Sirah in the blend. The 2016 Relentless is sensational. Dense purple-hued with a sweet bouquet of jammy blackberries, ground pepper, charcoal, and some smoky, meaty notes, it’s a full-bodied, powerful, yet plush, even elegant Syrah that does everything right. Drink it any time over the coming 10-15 years. Jeb Dunnuck
Ratings on Delectable
Tracy Hall 
This is pop and pour smooth. So refined and pretty. I was served blind and did guess Syrah, but it is so balanced I guessed an older vintage (only because it wasn’t huge). Tannins are super fine, blue and red fruits with a savory essence. Best Syrah we’ve had!
This is pop and pour smooth. So refined and pretty. I was served blind and did guess Syrah, but it is so balanced I guessed an older vintage (only because it wasn’t huge). Tannins are super fine, blue and red fruits with a savory essence. Best Syrah we’ve had!
9.7
Sipping Fine Wine
This wine honors long-time Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez and his relentless pursuit of quality. Sourced from a single ridgetop vineyard adjacent to the southern border of Stags Leap District, gravelly clay loam, sourced from a rugged and remote part of the estate, the grapes for Relentless are a blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Petite Sirah, which is a more bucolic grape than Syrah, providing for a blend that becomes an extraordinarily lush and rich wine. Aged for 30 months on 100% new French oak, deep Ruby with aromas of concentrated dark berry fruit and a hint of smoky pepper spice. Layered meaty flavors of blackberry, cherry and blueberry explode on your palate and subtle tannins relax to a nice long finish, great mouthfeel. This is certainly one of the best Syrah’s I have tasted. Will age well!
This wine honors long-time Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez and his relentless pursuit of quality. Sourced from a single ridgetop vineyard adjacent to the southern border of Stags Leap District, gravelly clay loam, sourced from a rugged and remote part of the estate, the grapes for Relentless are a blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Petite Sirah, which is a more bucolic grape than Syrah, providing for a blend that becomes an extraordinarily lush and rich wine. Aged for 30 months on 100% new French oak, deep Ruby with aromas of concentrated dark berry fruit and a hint of smoky pepper spice. Layered meaty flavors of blackberry, cherry and blueberry explode on your palate and subtle tannins relax to a nice long finish, great mouthfeel. This is certainly one of the best Syrah’s I have tasted. Will age well!
9.3Sipping Fine Wine
Wine honors long-time Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez & his relentless pursuit of quality. A blend of 90% Syrah & 10% Petite Sirah, a more bucolic grape than Syrah, providing for lush & rich wine. Aged for 30 months, 100% new French oak, deep Ruby with aromas of concentrated dark berry fruit & hint of smoky pepper spice. Layered meaty flavors of blackberry, cherry & blueberry explode on palate & subtle tannins relax to a nice long finish, great mouthfeel. One of the best Syrah’s tasted. Aged well!
Wine honors long-time Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez & his relentless pursuit of quality. A blend of 90% Syrah & 10% Petite Sirah, a more bucolic grape than Syrah, providing for lush & rich wine. Aged for 30 months, 100% new French oak, deep Ruby with aromas of concentrated dark berry fruit & hint of smoky pepper spice. Layered meaty flavors of blackberry, cherry & blueberry explode on palate & subtle tannins relax to a nice long finish, great mouthfeel. One of the best Syrah’s tasted. Aged well!
9.5Sipping Fine Wine
Wine honors long-time Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez & his relentless pursuit of quality. A blend of 90% Syrah & 10% Petite Sirah, a more bucolic grape than Syrah, providing for lush & rich wine. Aged for 30 months, 100% new French oak, deep Ruby with aromas of concentrated dark berry fruit & hint of smoky pepper spice. Layered meaty flavors of blackberry, cherry & blueberry explode on palate & subtle tannins relax to a nice long finish, great mouthfeel. One of the best Syrah’s I tasted. Aging well!
Wine honors long-time Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez & his relentless pursuit of quality. A blend of 90% Syrah & 10% Petite Sirah, a more bucolic grape than Syrah, providing for lush & rich wine. Aged for 30 months, 100% new French oak, deep Ruby with aromas of concentrated dark berry fruit & hint of smoky pepper spice. Layered meaty flavors of blackberry, cherry & blueberry explode on palate & subtle tannins relax to a nice long finish, great mouthfeel. One of the best Syrah’s I tasted. Aging well!
9.6
Raul Puga
Wow!!! Just wow!!! Paired with Grilled Rack of Venison. This wine is 7 yrs old but still very young. So smooth and still full of fruit. One of the best wines I’ve had in 2023!! Cheers!!
Wow!!! Just wow!!! Paired with Grilled Rack of Venison. This wine is 7 yrs old but still very young. So smooth and still full of fruit. One of the best wines I’ve had in 2023!! Cheers!!
9.8
Tyler Felous
Power bomb. Absolutely massive even after 3 hours of bottle being open. Dark, inky color. This was beautiful, and I imagine could go another 20 years easily.
Power bomb. Absolutely massive even after 3 hours of bottle being open. Dark, inky color. This was beautiful, and I imagine could go another 20 years easily.
9.7
Matt Konopka
Fabulous wine with chef buds at Osteria 545 in Paulsboro NJ Amazing food. The Relentless is amazing good. Great fruit.
Fabulous wine with chef buds at Osteria 545 in Paulsboro NJ Amazing food. The Relentless is amazing good. Great fruit.
9.4
Joe Flo
Shafer relentless is absolutely delicious now and should stay that way for many years
Shafer relentless is absolutely delicious now and should stay that way for many years
9.6
Deb Dellaposta
Ripe, jammy and plush. Tannins are mild and smooth. Alcohol at 15.8% so super hot no way to mistake this for old world. Lots of black fruit and black pepper.
Ripe, jammy and plush. Tannins are mild and smooth. Alcohol at 15.8% so super hot no way to mistake this for old world. Lots of black fruit and black pepper.
9.3Joe Flo
Still a young baby decanted 3hrs.
Still a young baby decanted 3hrs.
9.6
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