Shafer 2015 Syrah Relentless

90% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah

"Blended of 90% Syrah and 10% Petite Sirah, the deep purple-black colored 2015 Relentless has a total rock-star nose of flamboyant blackberry pie, plum preserves, mulberries and licorice scents with hints of Sichuan pepper, hoisin, Indian spices and smoked meats plus a waft of raspberry leaves. Very big, rich, full and decadently fruited in the mouth, the palate packs in black fruits and exotic spices layers with a firm, rounded tannin frame and just enough freshness to carry off the long, opulent finish.” Robert Parker 95+ Points

"This blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Petite Sirah is a forceful, powerful knockout, delivering tones of turned earth, wild game and nutmeg. Full bodied and robust, it layers velvety smoothness around a mouthfilling, grippy core of bright black fruit that's rich and highly rewarding." Wine Enthusiast 94 Points

"Relentless is a blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah that originates in a rugged, sloping vineyard planted in the chaparral foothills of the Vaca Mountains, along Napa Valley’s drier, cooler southeast corridor. The soul of the wine, though, comes from its namesake, our longtime winemaker, Elias Fernandez, who the Shafer family honors with this proprietary blend for his relentless pursuit of quality."

“The first pour offers an endlessly rich density of meaty, smoky, black fruit aromas while the wine saturates the mouth with deep flavors of black licorice, bramble fruit, black pepper, allspice, bacon, and char. All of this opulence is energized with underlying acidity and bound together with structured, ripe tannins built for very long term ageability.”
— Shafer winemaker Elias Fernandez