2019 Syrah Relentless
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Tasting notes
The 2019 Relentless is a blend of 89% Syrah and 11% Petite Sirah that spent 30 months in 100% new French oak. The nose is a bit briary, with intriguing herbal complexities from the Syrah, vibrant purple-raspberry fruit and perhaps some blueberry fruit from the Petite Sirah. This is full-bodied, tannic, sturdy stuff that needs time to come around, but as it's packed with fruit, that shouldn't be an issue. Patience will be required.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2019 Relentless is mostly Syrah, yet the cuvée always includes a good bit of Petite Sirah, with 11% in the 2019. A deep purple-hued blockbuster of a Syrah, it offers loads of ripe blackberries, ground pepper, sappy herbs, and violet-like aromas and flavors. One of those wines that delivers richness and intensity with no sensation of weight of heaviness, it has terrific balance, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Enjoy bottles over the coming 10-15 years.
The 2019 Relentless is gorgeous. Bright and intensely savory, the 2019 bristles with energy. Black pepper, sage, tobacco, incense and dried herbs lend tons of nuance to this expressive Syrah/Petite Sirah blend. There's quite a bit of energy here and also a bit less heft than most previous vintages, a reflection of a move towards slightly cooler sites.
The 2019 Relentless is a dense, explosive wine. It possesses stunning depth and energy, a combination that works so well here. Naturally the fruit is still very primary, but the 2019 is clearly a wine of tremendous balance and harmony. I can't wait to see how it ages. A closing aromatic flourish rounds things out in style, suggesting a bright future lies ahead.
About the producer
The site of Shafer has been around since 1880, and grapes continued to be grown here, even during prohibition. It is said that some wine was made here during that time. In 1972, John Shafer bought the property in the Stag’s Leap district, he immediately began planting the Cabernet on the hillside.