With this Syrah, Shafer honours winemaker Elias Fernandez, whose pursuit of quality has marked nearly two decades at Shafer Vineyards. Multi-layered and expansive, Relentless combines the concentrated black cherry and blackberry flavours of Syrah with black pepper spice and an earthiness derived from Petite Sirah, both planted in Shafer’s Hillside vineyard on the southern border of Stags Leap district.

A deep, dark, delicious wine, Relentless is aged for approximately 36 months in French oak barrels.

There’s heft and structure along with mouth-coating flavours 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.

“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.” 96 points, Jeb Dunnuck, February 2023

“Rich and deep dark-fruited character with hints of roast bacon, chocolate and grilled herbs. Full-bodied with a broad, structured palate that has a deep core of dark berry fruit, and an array of plush, velvety tannins that lasts for minutes, leading to a polished, slightly chewy finish. 90% syrah and 10% petit syrah. Better from 2025.” 95 points, James Suckling, April 2023

“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.” 94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media, October 2022