Shafer Relentless Napa Valley Syrah 2018
Shafer Relentless Napa Valley Syrah 2018
Shafer Vineyards
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2018 Relentless®
Napa Valley
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary Vintage of Relentless
This wine honors long-time Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez and his relentless pursuit of quality. Sourced from ridgetop vineyards adjacent to the southern border of Stags Leap District, the grapes for Relentless are a proprietary blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah.
“The ideal 2018 vintage has produced a Relentless that balances richness and vivacity. There’s heft and structure along with mouth-coating flavors that go on and on. Uncork this bottle and you’ll find layers of blackberry compote, red and black spice, dried black fruit, black tea, tobacco, and earthiness. All this liquid midnight comes with an undercarriage of ripe tannin that promises much more beauty and opulence in the decades ahead.” — Elias Fernandez, winemaker
Reviews
“A blend of 94% Syrah and 6% Petite Sirah, the 2018 Relentless looks to be just about sensational, offering a dense purple color as well as rich, loaded notes of blackberries, currants, smoked meats, peppery spice, and violets. Reminding me of a great Cornas on steroids with its gamy, exotic character paired with beautiful richness, it has fabulous purity, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. This will undoubtedly be a great vintage for this cuvée, and my money is on it being one of the best yet.” 96-98 — Jeb Dunnuck
“ A young wine with superb depth and polish that shows great depth and brightness. Full and focused with blue fruit and long, fine tannins that are compact and energetic. Slate. Graphite. Sophisticated and curated.” 97 — James Suckling
“ The 2018 Relentless tilts more towards Petite Sirah than many vintages, being a blend of 76% Syrah and 24% Petite Sirah, all aged 30 months in 100% new French oak. Scents of road tar, black olive and blackberries mark the nose, while the palate is full-bodied and framed by cedary notes, reasonably supple but tannic, then picks up an appealing licorice note on the finish. Best After 2023.” 92 — Robert Parker
Vintage and Production Notes
Release Date: March 15, 2022
Vineyard Locations: Ridgetop and foothills sites along the Vaca Mountains just south of Stags Leap District
The 2018 Growing Season: A lengthy, cool, steady growing season created ideal conditions for the fruit to hang on the vine a long time in the summer sun developing rich color, alluring aromas, and luxuriant flavors.
Varietal Composition: 76% Syrah, 24% Petite Sirah
Brix at Harvest: 24.0° – 26.0°
Cooperage: 30 months in 100% new 60-gallon French oak barrels (Allier & Tronçais)
Alcohol: 15.8%
Case Production: 3,300
The Relentless Story
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.
Shafer Vineyards
Shafer Vineyards is a 30,000 case winery in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District. The Shafer family owns and farms 200 acres of vineyards, sources for Shafer’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, and Petite Sirah.
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