2015 Shafer Relentless Syrah California Red

2015 Shafer Relentless Syrah

95+ RP

Featured Review

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 Wine Advocate

Robert Parker | 95+ RP

The saturated purple-colored 2015 Relentless is a Syrah-dominated blend that includes 10% Petite Sirah. This cuvée was first made in 1999 and the Syrah comes from a site in the hills above Oakville Knoll. Boasting terrific, full-throttle notes of black fruits, violets, and tapenade, it shows surprising elegance and purity on the palate, has fine, silky tannins, and superb balance. It’s a brilliant wine that has both power and elegance.

Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JD

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 WE

Time has done wonders for the 2015 Relentless, especially in softening some of the tannins that were so imposing last year. A powerful, rich wine, the 2015 possesses terrific fruit intensity and overall energy. Cherry jam and pomegranate fruit character give the 2015 its decidedly red-fruited profile. The 2015 is not as complex or nuanced as other vintages have been, but it is absolutely delicious and a real pleasure to taste.

Vinous Media | 93 VM

Rich and deeply structured, with powerfully built blackberry, river stone and smoky pepper beef flavors that take on potency toward refined tannins.

Wine Spectator | 93 WS

This Syrah blend is named for winemaker Elias Fernandez, who has been at Shafer since 1984 and relates to his supposedly relentless pursuit of quality. A rich and opulent fruit cake nose with concentrated, ripe blackberry fruit and black pepper spice. This wine shows a superb balance on the palate with hints of woodsmoke and gravel on the finish. Drinking Window 2018 - 2030

Decanter | 92 DEC

Type of Wine	California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal	Shiraz/Syrah : Something magical occurred when two ancient French grapes procreated and the varietal of Syrah entered the world of winegrowing. The exact time period of its inception is still undetermined; however, the origin of Syrah’s parentage confirms it was birthed in the Rhone Valley. DNA testing performed by UC Davis has indicated that Syrah is the progeny of the varietals Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche, both of Rhone origin. Syrah dominates its native homeland of Northern Rhone and has become one of the most popular grape varietals in the world. Syrah, Shiraz and Petite Sirah have often been confused and misunderstood, some consumers believing them to all be the same grape, while others thinking the opposite. Petite Sirah is actually the offspring of Syrah and Peloursin and though related, is an entirely different grape variety. Its official name is Durif, for the name of the French nurseryman who first propagated the varietal in the 1880s; it is called Petite Sirah in California (due to the resemblance of Syrah, but smaller berries). Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape. Producers in Australia have been labelling Syrah as “Shiraz” since James Busby first introduced the varietal to the continent. The Scottish viticulturist brought Syrah from France to Australia in the middle of the 18th century and labelled the cuttings as “Sycras” and “Ciras,” which may have led to the naming. Most California vintners label their bottlings as Syrah and of course in French style and tradition, the name of the village or area the grape is cultivated dictates the label name. The Syrah grape is at home in Northern Rhone where the climate is cool and the terroir is filled with gravel, schist, limestone, iron, granite and sandy soils. It thrives on rocky, hilly terrain with a southern exposure, due to its need for sunlight. Syrah is a very vigorous grape with a spreading growth habit. The berries are small to medium oval shaped blue-black and tend to shrivel when ripe. Today, Syrah is one of the most popular and widely planted grape varietals in the world, covering almost 190,000 hectares across the earth’s surface. It is the only red grape variety permitted by AOC regulations in the appellations of Hermitage and Cote-Rotie, where it has breathed life into some of the most tremendous wines on the planet. Languedoc-Roussilon has the most surface area planted in France with 43,200 hectares dedicated to Syrah. The varietal is used for blending in Southern Rhone, Provence and even Bordeaux. Syrah has spread worldwide from Australia to California and South Africa to Spain creating the ‘New World’ hype of the varietal. Since the 1990’s, Syrah winegrowing and production has increased exponentially; for example, in 1958 there were a mere 2,000 hectares planted in France. By 2005 that number increased to over 68,000 hectares and today it is well over 70,000. The same holds true for California, Australia and other ‘New World’ producers that have jumped “all in.” World-wide there are approximately 190,000 hectares of Syrah currently being cultivated. The allure of Syrah has taken the world by storm, but is important to note where the hype began. Long before Syrah was being stamped with ‘New World’ or of ‘cult status,’ the tremendous quality of Hermitage was being written about in Thomas Jefferson’s diary. Today, the grape variety can be grown, fashioned, named and enjoyed in a myriad of ways, but the quality of Syrah grape remains the same – incredible.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.

Producer	Shafer : When John Shafer made the decision to move his family from Chicago to the lush Napa Valley of California, a viticultural endeavor transformed into a fruitful winemaking career. He had been a successful business man in Chicago, flew B-24 Bombers in World War II and put his engineering degree from Cornell University to good use but this daring move became a life-defining decision. In 1972, Shafer purchased a 209 acre property in Stags Leap which was perfectly suited to the varietals of Bordeaux, or what he identified as prime growing conditions through his extensive research on France’s most popular wine-growing terroir. Here, well above the fog line, it was deemed too cold to grow Cabernet Sauvignon successfully but Shafer was undeterred and began to sample his neighbor’s grapes for verification. Satisfied with his findings, he began planting his steep hillside vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon and in 1978 made the first Shafer Vineyards wine. The wine debuted in 1981 to high praise from critics and consumers alike, setting a benchmark for future Shafer hillside Cabernets and in effect was the forerunner of the highly coveted Hillside Select. In 1983, John Shafer’s son Doug, joined the team as winemaker. The following year, Elias Fernandez was hired as assistant winemaker, allowing John to spearhead the administrative and marketing aspects of the enterprise. This also enabled him the time to organize his neighboring vintners and grape growers to petition the government to designate their region as an official AVA (American Viticultural Area). Four years later, in 1985, approval was granted making Stags Leap District Napa Valley’s third AVA and today is considered one of the world’s best appellations for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon. Shafer’s efforts were instrumental in this historic development. Over the next several decades, Shafer Vineyards would see great success and the addition of many wines to its portfolio. Shafer’s first Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay debuted in 1995 and was named one of the Top Ten Wines of the Year by Wine Spectator Magazine. Relentless, which is a blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah was released in 2002. One Point Five saw its first appearance in 2007, which replaced their original label of Cabernet Sauvignon. TD-9 is a label of great significance as it symbolizes the bold undertaking Shafer made from riding commuter trains in downtown Chicago to learning to operate an old TD-9 tractor in the steep hills of Napa. It is a proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. Shafer Hillside Select, however remains the pride and joy and is a tribute to the first block of its prized hillside Cabernet Sauvignon and its long continuing success. Cumulatively 32,000 cases of wine are produced annually at Shafer Vineyards, but the Hillside Select is as elusive as it is coveted. Great vintages are difficult to acquire and should be met with great appreciation should the opportunity arise.

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