Winemaker Notes
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, the grapes for Relentless are a proprietary blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah.
A bold wine like Relentless complements similar concentrated flavors found in dishes such as Syrah-braised short ribs, smoked lamb with Relentless reduction, roast duck, as well as beef and game. Aged, dry cheeses such as Cheddar, Abbaye De Belloc, and Manchego also pair deliciously.
Blend: 91% Syrah, 9% Petite Sirah
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From a more challenging vintage, the 2011 Relentless exhibits a similar opaque blue/purple color as well as remarkable concentration and balance. With stunning perfume, purity, texture and full-bodied richness, the 2011 is slightly more evolved and softer than the 2010, but it offers much of the same character. This compelling effort is one of the superstars of the vintage in 2011.
Range: 94-96 -
Wine Enthusiast
There’s no denying the power in this wine, which contains Syrah and Petite Sirah sourced from one ridgetop Stags Leap District site. But in this case, power is a beautiful thing, sinewy and contained. Complex in plum, gamy meat and a lingering suggestion of coconut, it has size offset by the acidity, and a beguiling finish of cracked black pepper. Things will get more interesting in the cellar, through 2021–2026.
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Wine Spectator
This big red brims with dark, rich, chunky blackberry and wild berry fruit, with notes of black licorice that edge toward prune. Maintaining a fine balance for its size, this is extracted, with firm, chewy, peppery tannins. Syrah and Petite Sirah. Best from 2015 through 2028.
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Vinous
The 2011 Relentless is bright, fresh and full of vivacity. Lively acids perk up a core of red-fleshed fruit. In the glass, the 2011 is lithe - as wines from this vintage are and yet its balance is absolutely impeccable. The first signs of aromatic development are starting to appear. I would not push my luck on aging, but the 2011 is pretty terrific now. I loved the 2011 from barrel, but then found it initially disappointing from bottle. This showing is more consistent with my first encounter. Superb.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.