Ruby red color. Blackberries, black cherries, blueberries, licorice, chocolate and coffee with hints of spice and floral in the nose. Rich concentrated fruit in the flavor, blackberries, cherries and chocolate. Full bodied, nice complexity, good acidity and a medium to long silky finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank this over a week. Awesome dark color. Deep dark fruit taste and long finish. Age worthy with the % of Petite Syrah in the blend. Drink or hold. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just entering its drinking window for my tastes. Big/bold fruit with a savory finish that is starting to integrate nicely. Well made and delicious when you're in the mood. Will hold my last bottle for a few years as I do think that there's upside.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
For NYE dinner. Had the bottle upright for 4 hours prior to decanting slowly under light below. Ended up about 1/2 inch with sediment left in the bottle. Mocha and oak on the nose. Taste begins with dark fruit, spice, chocolate and oak in that order. Still austere enough to require a fatty meat to tame. Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My only bottle. Gift from a dear friend. 2 hour decant. Lots of sediment. Opaque. Dark fruit flavors. Really opened up at 3 hours. Interesting blend. Not grapes you would expect to be in a high end Napa wine, but a great wine nonetheless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Juicy, fresh and bright blueberries and brambles on the nose. Dito on the palate, beautifully underpinned by savory nuances like black olive, broth, smoke and coffeebeans. Perfect acidity adds lift and freshness. Not the most complex nor concentrated version of this wine, but utterly drinkable and enjoyable now. So, pop one and enjoy!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium deep ruby color. Black cherries, licorice, chocolate and espresso with hints of spice in the nose. Rich fruit in the flavor, blackberries, cherries and chocolate. Full bodied, nice complexity, good acidity and a medium to long silky finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened two hours prior to dinner. Dark red fruit on the nose. The palate was dark cherry, plums, tobacco and a hint of spice. The finish was moderate to long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unfortunately we had to pnp. I think decanting would have raised the score. Also it followed a bottle of Saxum James Berry. The palate was dark cherry, plum, tobacco and herbs. The finish was moderate to long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
82% syrah. 18% petit syrah. 15.8% abv. Rich and chewy. Lots of oak (30 months in new oak). Dark cherry and plum notes. Best with something fatty to cut the acid and oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Almost black in color, intense smell of blackberry, plums and crannberry. Very fruity without any secondary nuances. Full body is understatment, wine is just huge. Entry sweetness of blackberries and cranberries than mid acidity and long bitter and alcoholic finish. Creamy texture. Relentless 2009 has higher acidity and better overall balance than One Point Five Cabernet 2009 but taking into account very high alcohol ( 15,8%) and massive concentration, accidity is not able to provide sufficient freshness and lift. Somewhere was made a mistake, in vineyard ( too late harvest) or in winery and as result this wine is too alcoholic with hot bitter finish. Cool down the bottle and fat ribeye steak helped to gain very good impresion. This is outstanding wine but could be much better ( great with score above 95/100) if not something went wrong during production.
This wine continues to improve with age. Licorice, chocolate and black cherry on the nose, lush and mouthwatering, lots of depth and character with a long, long luxurious finish. Absolutely love this wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for several hours, consumed over 5. Almost black in color, the sweetness of the oak is the only thing holding this powerhouse back from true Syrah heaven. Still a fun wine to drink. Drink now thru 2024, but I’d drink it up now personally.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened with a steak. Unlike the last time i decanted it for 4 hours it was much better. Needs to be served a little on the cooler side as the alcohol level is quite high (16.1% i think as i measured it) but it is so concentrated it can handle that alcohol level with food and the acidity in the wine. A very special wine, will not please everyone but for me i like sometimes to drink a teeth staining wine with my steak...to each his own lol
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still a bruiser though perhaps getting towards the end of its drinking window (or just closing down a bit)? Tannins dominate the mouthfeel with briar and dark fruits. Not quite as good as I seem to remember prior bottles.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bruiser... oh so much concentration in this wine it is close to be like an amarone but with nice acidity to compensate. Entering a sweet spot of its drinking window...needs food but delicious
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opulent. Oaky, spicy, dark berries. Very racy. Heavy tannin, incredibly ripe, medium acid, hint of cough syrup. Needs time perhaps to unify, lacking a bit of balance, but the fruit is incredibly pure and delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A powerful quaff that is Napa in style, showing off what Syrah can do and how it pairs with beef like no other. The nose gives off blackberry pie and the plate is treated to Creme de Cassis and violets with a touch of dust at the very end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I enjoyed this (with rack of lamb) much more than I anticipated. I have generally stopped drinking Cali Syrah because most producers are heavy handed with extraction. This is a full wine; it’s definitely got that Cali set of flavors that don’t show terroir and strain a la Northern Rhones. That said, this is a very well balanced wine and a great food wine. My cost was $62, and the QPR is quite good at that level, though auction is 50% higher now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 2009 Relentless still shows quite young. The nose is creamy and oak would appear to have relaxed at bit. Definitely no overpowering wood to me. Ripe fruited with black berry and black cherry notes, with sweet, still firm tannins. Medium to long finish and a tooth stainer (though not as great an offender as a younger Mending Wall petite tasted alongside). Early in the drinking window in my assessment
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cellartracker in the flesh with Stefan, Mats & Tomas (L'Effervescence, Tokyo, Japan): Polished oak, vanilla, spice, plentiful black fruits, slightly earthy, muddy almost. Off dry on the palate it feels, rich, spicy, plentiful alcohol warmth, tight tannins, vanilla. Could be any varietal harvested at over full phenolic ripeness. I called New World 2012 but couldn't be more specific
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. This is black juice. Expect your tongue to be stained. There is some mild sediment at the end, but not enough to demand decanting. On the nose, this has intense black fruits, coupled with smoke and char. In the mouth, I get concentrated black fruit; the flavor is deep and rich, but has a slight burn to it. The finish is chewy with the dark atomic fruit blast lingering through. Overall, this is a very distinctive bottle of wine. The tannin has been absorbed, so this is ready to go. Pony up! 92 points.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a very rich wine, big fruit, high alcohol (15,8%). Went well with rich food, and reveals layers of ripe dark berries, plum, oak, some sweetness on the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Supple, vibrant, elegant, reflecting cooler Nor Cal climate rather than Central Coast offerings. Over 15% but not a hint of heat. I expected this bottle to be fantastic and it delivered. Drink at cellar temp. It's too bad winning WOTY drove prices up on all vintages of Relentless.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first bottle of Relentless. Didn't know what to expect, but I am guessing it met expectations, but didn't exceed. Great nose, but the fruit didn't completely match it, even after a 2 hour decant. I enjoyed it, but at that price, I believe I have some better options.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Barely pushed into 93 range for me. Solid bottle of wine and I agree with the other reviewers. Less pencil/graphite and more blue fruit, maybe a little too much so it needs at least 2-3 years before I drink my last one. Medium finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright red fruit, undertones of blackberry perhaps plum. Early palate is raspberry and some blackberry. Builds into a dark fruit flavors with chalk and wood. Finish is tobacco, oak, dry earth with a warm and lingering finish. Notes of cocoa and dark chocolate with a dark cherry flavors.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet, totally opaque. Very viscous, coating the glass. Aroma of blackberries with charred oak. Very full-bodied but thick and heavy, very high alcohol burning the palate. One-dimensional, all power but little charm or complexity. Became more tannic with each sip. It's probably a well-made wine but too big and coarse for my taste. My score reflects just my personal taste. Maybe I can find a friend who wants to trade for my remaining bottles! Ric
This was better on the second day. Very extracted rich wine that gained balance with air. Don't serve to warm. On the second night the fruit subsided leaving a more balanced wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
As with other CT notes, I really did like this wine quite a bit. It was impeccably balanced and still had a beautifully rich and unctuous texture and mouthfeel about it, the likes of which I don't often see in a Syrah or a PS for that matter. This 2009 is 82% Syrah and 18% Petite Sirah. It is in a great drinking window right about now.
Specific notes of blackberry, black raspberry, charcoal, blueberry, black licorice, and asphalt. The raspberry streak faintly repeats itself on the back end, with some minerality (slate, granite) to finish it off.
Primarily a black-fruit driven wine, but with enough verve to provide lift throughout the experience. A significant amount of depth and flavor profile that adds layered nuance and interest. I decanted this wine, but it didn't really need it. PnP was just fine.
A solid 94 points. Enjoy now and over the next 7+ years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened 60 minutes prior to consuming and then drank over the next thee hours. Initial impression: very dark. First nose (before swirl) was very moderate; much of the nose was apparent after the swirl. Nose of dark fruits. Very pleasurable. The taste agreed with my flavor profile.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful wine with great dark fruits and soft round mouthfeel. Nice structure but tannins are not overly aggressive. Still some upside. Will try again in 2-3 years.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Massive (not a fruit bomb tho) wine. Even w 24 hrs in the bottle, last glass the next night barely budged. Will wait a couple more yrs to try the next.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice nose with coffee and liqurice but the high alcohol is a tad to obvious, this is especially evident in the decently long aftertaste. Just too much for me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Exuberant bouquet with deep blueberry, sweet raspberries, white pepper, some aniseed and a hint of plums. Ripe, full bodied palate, on the sweet side with rich fruitiness and slight spiciness. The finish is quite long and pleasant. Something of a cross between the slightly jammy and over-ripe 2008 and the more elegant and complex 2010.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A big wine. You can definitely tell the 15.8% alcohol but the fruit and acidity come through enough so that the alcohol doesn't get too much in the way. Overall, well made and good stuff.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I like the wine, but the tannin outweighs the fruit and becomes the major component, especially after several hours. I'm not sure tannins will soften enough with time. I'll drink a bottle each year and see what happens. Ric
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed this at the end of the evening with dessert of carrot cake and a stray brownie or two. The wine really was fantastic with the sweets and they were a great pair. The nose on this is even better now than it was from memory/notes. Really enjoyable just to take it in. Beautiful balance that completely integrates the fruit/tannins/alcohol...no way of knowing this was so high in alcohol other than looking at the bottle. Really great!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is the type of wine which contains everything and then a little more. Still it is meticulously balanced and expresses a lovely integration. The nose is full of typical dark mature fruit, cacao, subtle white pepper, blueberry, a whiff of kirsch and lovely orange blossom. The palate adds nothing more and nothing less than expected. Acidity, oak, fruit and tannins speak in perfect harmony. There is enough structure to allow for a decade or more of cellaring and if served today be sure to add acidity, fat and loads of texture to the food. A true gem which needs some serious time to truly show its best side! (score is 94+)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Holy WOW. Had at Solbar in Calistoga and so delicious. Amazingly complex, robust and fruit forward. So much going on in the glass. Huge crowd pleaser, we had 2 bottles as a group. Wine of the night by far.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
WOW! What an amazing bottle. Glad I have 1 more to drink. Shafer Relentless had so many characteristics. The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, black currant (cassis) and oak. It tastes like blackberry, black currant (cassis), cherry, oak and black pepper. The body is full. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is possibly the densest wine I have ever tasted (and I've been at this for a long time). More like wine soup in the mouth, with more grip than a snow tire. It was literally undrinkable until the 4th day but then it started to show its eventual potential. I think it might be a good wine in 7 or 8 years but be careful til then.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Already better than notes of 1/31/2013, especially on the 2nd day. Blackberry syrup, licorice, tobacco, a touch of herb...big, big but some stoney minerality provides grounding. Will be better in a year or so.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really enjoyed this. Black and purple fruit. Big nose and big finish. This just continued to open up with chocolate and licorice. Smooth, rounded and showing complexity and depth. This is so much more than dark fruit. Some tobacco & sweet earthy notes.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initially strong bouquet and heavy fruit, but an hour after opening bouquet and fruit was gone. Possibly there is more underneath all the tannins but finished the bottle before I could find out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I decanted this outstanding bottle of wine for 2hrs before severing at a dinner party we hosted with our friends. This is a very big wine it wraps around the palate with serious depth. We where all very impress with the 2009 Relentless. This wine will only get better with time but is very drinkable right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sweetness at immediate sip turning into a well balanced fruit (strong plumb). Fruit forward powerhouse that quickly transitioned to a firm tannin structured and gripping finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep purple in color. Nose is intoxicating with pepper, licorice and dark fruits. Great balance throughout and medium finish is so enjoyable. Really like this wine a lot!! I need to find more than the two I have left.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Took a little while to open up but once it did it was amazing. White pepper all around. Gorgeous black fruit. Short finish at first but then it shifted gears and had a long gripping finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A tremendous blockbuster of a wine. Massive, but it remains true to its Syrah roots with an appealing dark mineral driven flavor profile. Crazy-high 15.8% alcohol but it never feels heavy handed. Shafer has a great bottling here and though it's not cheap I think it delivers more enjoyment than most $60 Napa Cabs will.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've just been punched in the mouth by a blackberry! Lush balanced gorgeous. Huge. Not for everyday drinking you need to brace yourself for this über California expression of Syrah but wow they packed a lot into this bottle. I loved the note below on bubblegum because yeah it's in there. This is an experience in a glass
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 3 hours and let stand for 3 in the cellar. Lush dark fruit with mild acidity and a 30 second finish. The wine opened with diner of Filet with port reduction and rissoto. Maybe not as good as the 2008 but very close. Drink now with a long decant or wait 1-2 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needs more time but so refined. Dark red fruit and rugged earth. I will not touch it for a few more years. Maybe with an extended decant I can crack one open. Cheers!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The color is ruby to purple and very dark and opaque. The smells are tar, blueberry, blackberry, pepper, and red licorice. The tastes are blueberry, pepper, blackberry, spice, raspberry, bubblegum (yeah I know, but yes), and subtle smoke. The acidity was a bit zingy and even though this was high alcohol, it was very precise and focused with silky tannins and a lengthy finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed with a new york strip at Ruth Chris in Austin. Big, youthful wine with tons of dark berry and spice. Balanced by nice earthiness. decanted at the table but could have used a few more hours...score should improve with time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The color is purple and very dense and opaque. The smells are tar, currant, smoke, dark fruits, and camphor. The tastes are crushed blueberry, vanilla, cedar, hoison, pepper, raspberry, blackberry, and dark chocolate. This wine really started to open up as time passed and needed some air, but did it seem to shape-shift quite a bit as flavors took turns making there presence known and then giving way to the next! The structure is powerful but elegant and the tannins are sheer and silky The finish is lengthy and the acidity is pleasant. A complex wine that was multifaceted.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow this was a blockbuster. Dark in color with nose dripping of dark fruit, wild berry, mocha, and a hint of mineral. Full bodied and palate coating with silky tannins and a smooth long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Huge. Nose is spicebox and toasted marshmallows. Tastes are black pepper, dark fruit and leather. Long finish. Only concern is the balance isn't perfect. Other vintages have turned out great with time so this could be stellar in a few years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had with a group dinner at Del Frisco's New York. First experience with this wine, was looking for a high end crowd pleaser to complement the steaks.
This is a very big wine, not for someone interested in subtleties. Deep purple color. Nose is floral/ fruit. Classic Calif Syrah. Boysenberry, cedar, dark fruits, vanilla, mild spice, pepper.
Long fish - 30+ seconds. Excellent and unique wine from a great producer. Has a long life ahead of it, no doubt this will gain complexity in time
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dense and dark purple in the glass. Intense and vibrant! Aromas of Dark red fruits. Blackberries, Cassis and Plums. Cacao with hints of Lilac, Spices and Anise. Some smoky characters. Remarkable! More Dark Berries, like Black- and Blueberries, some Raspberry. Leaves, Floral characters. Obvious oak. Finishes long with Fruits and some Pepper. Bright acidity embedded in a great structure with present tannins! The Shafer 2009 relentless presents itself big and rich, but surprisingly balanced and structured. See my Blog cellartv.wordpress.com for more details about this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I liked this, but had some reservations. Easy to drink. Not sure how it will improve with age. Fruit profile on the light side, but nice vanilla, spicy, dry finish. Would have enjoyed this more if fruit was more prominent. Will not buy again at full price.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/6/2024 - wino121 wrote: 94 Points
Stunning, finally coming into the optimal drinking window.
Too much going here to list, all good, that I’ll tell ya!
Drink now though 2027-9
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2023 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ruby red color. Blackberries, black cherries, blueberries, licorice, chocolate and coffee with hints of spice and floral in the nose. Rich concentrated fruit in the flavor, blackberries, cherries and chocolate. Full bodied, nice complexity, good acidity and a medium to long silky finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2023 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnP. Needed a good decant. Delicious and can age for a while. Very enjoyable, especially the price pt.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2023 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank this over a week. Awesome dark color. Deep dark fruit taste and long finish. Age worthy with the % of Petite Syrah in the blend. Drink or hold. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2023 - RichEB1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just entering its drinking window for my tastes. Big/bold fruit with a savory finish that is starting to integrate nicely. Well made and delicious when you're in the mood. Will hold my last bottle for a few years as I do think that there's upside.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2023 - jonathanwilliam Likes this wine: 91 Points
As the name would suggest, a bit relentless. Wonderful wine, perhaps simply too much or could use more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2023 - RumRunner Likes this wine: 96 Points
Absolutely fantastic bottle. Lots of dried concentrated fruit. Spectacular
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2023 - RBurgundy99 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent. May have peaked but still lots of runway left so no need to be in a rush.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2022 - cheetadad Likes this wine: 93 Points
For NYE dinner. Had the bottle upright for 4 hours prior to decanting slowly under light below. Ended up about 1/2 inch with sediment left in the bottle. Mocha and oak on the nose. Taste begins with dark fruit, spice, chocolate and oak in that order. Still austere enough to require a fatty meat to tame. Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2022 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 93 Points
My only bottle. Gift from a dear friend. 2 hour decant. Lots of sediment. Opaque. Dark fruit flavors. Really opened up at 3 hours. Interesting blend. Not grapes you would expect to be in a high end Napa wine, but a great wine nonetheless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2022 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 97 Points
Amazing. Lush, rich and complex Was great with some short rib. Super long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2022 - jkoenen wrote: 94 Points
Juicy, fresh and bright blueberries and brambles on the nose.
Dito on the palate, beautifully underpinned by savory nuances like black olive, broth, smoke and coffeebeans. Perfect acidity adds lift and freshness. Not the most complex nor concentrated version of this wine, but utterly drinkable and enjoyable now.
So, pop one and enjoy!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2022 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium deep ruby color. Black cherries, licorice, chocolate and espresso with hints of spice in the nose. Rich fruit in the flavor, blackberries, cherries and chocolate. Full bodied, nice complexity, good acidity and a medium to long silky finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2022 - markcic Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened two hours prior to dinner. Dark red fruit on the nose. The palate was dark cherry, plums, tobacco and a hint of spice. The finish was moderate to long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2022 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful!! Layers of flavors. Beautiful color.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2022 - markcic Likes this wine: 91 Points
Unfortunately we had to pnp. I think decanting would have raised the score. Also it followed a bottle of Saxum James Berry. The palate was dark cherry, plum, tobacco and herbs. The finish was moderate to long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2022 - Hanibal Likes this wine: 92 Points
Relentless indeed ! went great with BBQ ribs. 100% power, 0% elegance but sometimes power is what you are looking for.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2021 - Mattkrip68 wrote: 97 Points
Incredible bottle. Decanted for 90 minutes. Spicy and blackberry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2021 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Black in color, savory, herbs,and black tea on the nose. Rich, balanced and mature.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2021 - mdvillaverde Likes this wine: 93 Points
82% syrah. 18% petit syrah. 15.8% abv. Rich and chewy. Lots of oak (30 months in new oak). Dark cherry and plum notes. Best with something fatty to cut the acid and oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2021 - Joealex Likes this wine: 92 Points
Almost black in color, intense smell of blackberry, plums and crannberry. Very fruity without any secondary nuances.
Full body is understatment, wine is just huge. Entry sweetness of blackberries and cranberries than mid acidity and long bitter and alcoholic finish. Creamy texture. Relentless 2009 has higher acidity and better overall balance than One Point Five Cabernet 2009 but taking into account very high alcohol ( 15,8%) and massive concentration, accidity is not able to provide sufficient freshness and lift. Somewhere was made a mistake, in vineyard ( too late harvest) or in winery and as result this wine is too alcoholic with hot bitter finish. Cool down the bottle and fat ribeye steak helped to gain very good impresion. This is outstanding wine but could be much better ( great with score above 95/100) if not something went wrong during production.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/30/2021 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 97 Points
This wine continues to improve with age. Licorice, chocolate and black cherry on the nose, lush and mouthwatering, lots of depth and character with a long, long luxurious finish. Absolutely love this wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2020 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was actually a 2006. Rich layers of Syrah and lots of deep purple and blue fruit. Long finish. Went fantastic with Chili.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2020 - Sonojoe wrote: 99 Points
2009? Wow! This is so concentrated and fresh. Easily another 20 years. So good, full bodied wine. Elias is the man. Glad I have 4 more!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2020 - Montana Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted about four hours before we had this bottle with a great steak. Perfect combination. Wine was just superb with a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2020 - wino121 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for several hours, consumed over 5.
Almost black in color, the sweetness of the oak is the only thing holding this powerhouse back from true Syrah heaven.
Still a fun wine to drink.
Drink now thru 2024, but I’d drink it up now personally.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2020 - ageverett Likes this wine: 95 Points
This has arrived at a great spot. Glad we had patience with this bottle. Still has plenty of life in it, but entering maturity window for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
7/3/2020 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 95 Points
Plum, black fruit, chewy and an incredibly long finish
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2020 - Hanibal Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened with a steak. Unlike the last time i decanted it for 4 hours it was much better. Needs to be served a little on the cooler side as the alcohol level is quite high (16.1% i think as i measured it) but it is so concentrated it can handle that alcohol level with food and the acidity in the wine. A very special wine, will not please everyone but for me i like sometimes to drink a teeth staining wine with my steak...to each his own lol
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2020 - mreinhard74@gmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still a bruiser though perhaps getting towards the end of its drinking window (or just closing down a bit)? Tannins dominate the mouthfeel with briar and dark fruits. Not quite as good as I seem to remember prior bottles.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2020 - Rick 4 Wine Likes this wine:
Nice versatile Syrah. Enjoyed with rack of lamb (as before) with chimichurri. Enjoyed after the meal however, and this is a nice sipping wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2020 - Hanibal Likes this wine: 92 Points
A bruiser... oh so much concentration in this wine it is close to be like an amarone but with nice acidity to compensate. Entering a sweet spot of its drinking window...needs food but delicious
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2019 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Shared a bottle before dinner with blue cheese and fog on baguette. The bright red fruit, silky smooth tannins and round finish worked perfectly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2019 - George Lopez Likes this wine: 96 Points
This wine is drinking really, really well right now. I'm sad this was our last bottle. Perfect for the holidays!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2019 - Bobc7had wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2019 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Super good. Tons of juicy dark fruit, drinking much younger than it is. Easily five more years of great drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2019 - Ceo wrote: 95 Points
Wow this has improved with age 🍷🍷
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2019 - AWBryce wrote: 92 Points
Opulent. Oaky, spicy, dark berries. Very racy. Heavy tannin, incredibly ripe, medium acid, hint of cough syrup. Needs time perhaps to unify, lacking a bit of balance, but the fruit is incredibly pure and delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2018 - jschnabel wrote: 92 Points
A powerful quaff that is Napa in style, showing off what Syrah can do and how it pairs with beef like no other. The nose gives off blackberry pie and the plate is treated to Creme de Cassis and violets with a touch of dust at the very end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2018 - Martnmac wrote: 92 Points
Loved. Fantastic California style but not over stated. Paired beautifully with our Ribeye
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2018 - CieloVista wrote: 92 Points
...excellent dark fruit
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2018 - Levinsb wrote:
A few years after the bottle. Mellower and less urgent but still a brash attack of massive dark fruit
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2018 - Rick 4 Wine wrote: 93 Points
I enjoyed this (with rack of lamb) much more than I anticipated. I have generally stopped drinking Cali Syrah because most producers are heavy handed with extraction. This is a full wine; it’s definitely got that Cali set of flavors that don’t show terroir and strain a la Northern Rhones. That said, this is a very well balanced wine and a great food wine. My cost was $62, and the QPR is quite good at that level, though auction is 50% higher now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2018 - jviz wrote: 93 Points
The 2009 Relentless still shows quite young. The nose is creamy and oak would appear to have relaxed at bit. Definitely no overpowering wood to me. Ripe fruited with black berry and black cherry notes, with sweet, still firm tannins. Medium to long finish and a tooth stainer (though not as great an offender as a younger Mending Wall petite tasted alongside). Early in the drinking window in my assessment
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2018 - chatters wrote:
Cellartracker in the flesh with Stefan, Mats & Tomas (L'Effervescence, Tokyo, Japan): Polished oak, vanilla, spice, plentiful black fruits, slightly earthy, muddy almost. Off dry on the palate it feels, rich, spicy, plentiful alcohol warmth, tight tannins, vanilla. Could be any varietal harvested at over full phenolic ripeness. I called New World 2012 but couldn't be more specific
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2018 - whitmanlholt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured. This is black juice. Expect your tongue to be stained. There is some mild sediment at the end, but not enough to demand decanting. On the nose, this has intense black fruits, coupled with smoke and char. In the mouth, I get concentrated black fruit; the flavor is deep and rich, but has a slight burn to it. The finish is chewy with the dark atomic fruit blast lingering through. Overall, this is a very distinctive bottle of wine. The tannin has been absorbed, so this is ready to go. Pony up! 92 points.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2017 - fishkabob wrote: 98 Points
Still improving. Has at least another 5 years at this level.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2017 - smphelps wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple. Big boy, with rich aromas of blueberry, ripe black cherry, and coffee. Big and bold fruits. Needs food to offset weight. Nice and long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2017 - tcarter Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice, clean. Simple but nicely balanced fruit and earth and spice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2017 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 94 Points
consistent with notes of 12/8/2013 - still powerful and youthful.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2017 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is a very rich wine, big fruit, high alcohol (15,8%). Went well with rich food, and reveals layers of ripe dark berries, plum, oak, some sweetness on the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2017 - cubswinws wrote: 90 Points
Nice dark black fruit and woodsy finish but tannins and certainly mellowed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2017 - Ceo wrote: 96 Points
Getting better with age of course!! Glad to have more bottles!! Cheers🍷🍷🍷
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2017 - daniel.jay wrote: 95 Points
Supple, vibrant, elegant, reflecting cooler Nor Cal climate rather than Central Coast offerings. Over 15% but not a hint of heat. I expected this bottle to be fantastic and it delivered. Drink at cellar temp. It's too bad winning WOTY drove prices up on all vintages of Relentless.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2017 - gullsnest wrote: 96 Points
The best of the bunch. Pop and pour fabulous! Decanted and an hour later...indescribable. May be my favorite of all time. Paired with a filet. OMG.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2017 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice Syrah.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2017 - UofM wrote: 91 Points
My first bottle of Relentless. Didn't know what to expect, but I am guessing it met expectations, but didn't exceed. Great nose, but the fruit didn't completely match it, even after a 2 hour decant. I enjoyed it, but at that price, I believe I have some better options.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2016 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Barely pushed into 93 range for me. Solid bottle of wine and I agree with the other reviewers. Less pencil/graphite and more blue fruit, maybe a little too much so it needs at least 2-3 years before I drink my last one. Medium finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2016 - mdipietro Likes this wine: 95 Points
Awesome.
Not helpful, I know.
It's all I got.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2016 - Morrissasson Likes this wine: 96 Points
Amazing wine, strong flavor, spicy and fruity at the same time, great nose after it opens up. Most drink with a big meal, steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2016 - Justinneal654 wrote: 94 Points
Bright red fruit, undertones of blackberry perhaps plum. Early palate is raspberry and some blackberry. Builds into a dark fruit flavors with chalk and wood. Finish is tobacco, oak, dry earth with a warm and lingering finish. Notes of cocoa and dark chocolate with a dark cherry flavors.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2016 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened up to reveal big fat red cherry. Went perfectly with grilled lamb chops with rosemary and garlic, and finished off nicely with ilk chocolate
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2016 - Ex-Ray Does not like this wine: 83 Points
Dark garnet, totally opaque. Very viscous, coating the glass. Aroma of blackberries with charred oak. Very full-bodied but thick and heavy, very high alcohol burning the palate. One-dimensional, all power but little charm or complexity. Became more tannic with each sip. It's probably a well-made wine but too big and coarse for my taste. My score reflects just my personal taste. Maybe I can find a friend who wants to trade for my remaining bottles!
Ric
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2)
7/7/2016 - Siebs Cellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Vibrant but sophisticated fruit, excellent body on the palate and a great fit with grilled meats on a summer evening.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2016 - Uncle John wrote: 93 Points
This was better on the second day. Very extracted rich wine that gained balance with air. Don't serve to warm. On the second night the fruit subsided leaving a more balanced wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2016 - awise45 wrote: 95 Points
As impressive as before -- wonderfully rich, full, smooth. Lots of dark fruit with some coffee and spice.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2016 - dandydon01 wrote: 93 Points
Open early - you won't regret it. Very tight when first opened. Needs at least an hour. Vibrant and explosive in your mouth after. Outstanding.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2016 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
As with other CT notes, I really did like this wine quite a bit. It was impeccably balanced and still had a beautifully rich and unctuous texture and mouthfeel about it, the likes of which I don't often see in a Syrah or a PS for that matter. This 2009 is 82% Syrah and 18% Petite Sirah. It is in a great drinking window right about now.
Specific notes of blackberry, black raspberry, charcoal, blueberry, black licorice, and asphalt. The raspberry streak faintly repeats itself on the back end, with some minerality (slate, granite) to finish it off.
Primarily a black-fruit driven wine, but with enough verve to provide lift throughout the experience. A significant amount of depth and flavor profile that adds layered nuance and interest. I decanted this wine, but it didn't really need it. PnP was just fine.
A solid 94 points. Enjoy now and over the next 7+ years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2016 - Brownvino wrote: 93 Points
Opened 60 minutes prior to consuming and then drank over the next thee hours.
Initial impression: very dark. First nose (before swirl) was very moderate; much of the nose was apparent after the swirl. Nose of dark fruits. Very pleasurable. The taste agreed with my flavor profile.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2016 - lucvary Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deux heures en carafe, un vin délicieux qui s'est bonifié tout au long du repas.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2016 - nicksala Likes this wine: 94 Points
What a great wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2015 - ipp Likes this wine: 93 Points
very well balanced ... great fruit, yet possessing a strong backbone
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2015 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 93 Points
In a word, "lovely"
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2015 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful wine with great dark fruits and soft round mouthfeel. Nice structure but tannins are not overly aggressive. Still some upside. Will try again in 2-3 years.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2015 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Massive (not a fruit bomb tho) wine. Even w 24 hrs in the bottle, last glass the next night barely budged. Will wait a couple more yrs to try the next.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2015 - torbda Does not like this wine: 89 Points
Nice nose with coffee and liqurice but the high alcohol is a tad to obvious, this is especially evident in the decently long aftertaste. Just too much for me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2015 - Chateau du Fey 1994 wrote: 89 Points
This wine was not my thing. Too jammy, over-ripe, and way too much alcohol. Not enough balance or finesse, o each his own I suppose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2015 - Canoehead Likes this wine: 95 Points
A sad part of the evening indeed when the last drop was poured (obviously decanted to avoid the chunky residue). Truly decadent!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
2/17/2015 - dchorton Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tannins still pretty thick, nice fruit, smooth & long finish. Blackberries and lightly peppered.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2015 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still quite primary with big bright fruits and moderate tannins. Likely better in a year or two.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2014 - HenrikJ wrote: 93 Points
Exuberant bouquet with deep blueberry, sweet raspberries, white pepper, some aniseed and a hint of plums. Ripe, full bodied palate, on the sweet side with rich fruitiness and slight spiciness. The finish is quite long and pleasant. Something of a cross between the slightly jammy and over-ripe 2008 and the more elegant and complex 2010.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2014 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still quite tannic and a bit alcoholic. Seems a bit disjointed right now. I would wait another year or two on the next one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2014 - toddmk Likes this wine: 91 Points
A big wine. You can definitely tell the 15.8% alcohol but the fruit and acidity come through enough so that the alcohol doesn't get too much in the way. Overall, well made and good stuff.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2014 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 89 Points
I like the wine, but the tannin outweighs the fruit and becomes the major component, especially after several hours. I'm not sure tannins will soften enough with time. I'll drink a bottle each year and see what happens.
Ric
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2014 - SoccerMark wrote: 93 Points
Better the next day, needs some serious air time, too young and should wait a bit. Still drinks alright though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2014 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 94 Points
Full bodied, smooth good fruit on th front and a great finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2014 - Jbird73 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Enjoyed this at the end of the evening with dessert of carrot cake and a stray brownie or two. The wine really was fantastic with the sweets and they were a great pair. The nose on this is even better now than it was from memory/notes. Really enjoyable just to take it in. Beautiful balance that completely integrates the fruit/tannins/alcohol...no way of knowing this was so high in alcohol other than looking at the bottle. Really great!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2014 - awise45 wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful collection of deep purple colors and rich scents of lavendar and vanilla, smooth and long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2014 - wino121 wrote: 93 Points
Smoking bottle of juice, it had Lavendar and black pepper on the nose,
epic is a good word and all you'd expect from..a big juicy Syrah!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2014 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is the type of wine which contains everything and then a little more. Still it is meticulously balanced and expresses a lovely integration. The nose is full of typical dark mature fruit, cacao, subtle white pepper, blueberry, a whiff of kirsch and lovely orange blossom. The palate adds nothing more and nothing less than expected. Acidity, oak, fruit and tannins speak in perfect harmony. There is enough structure to allow for a decade or more of cellaring and if served today be sure to add acidity, fat and loads of texture to the food. A true gem which needs some serious time to truly show its best side! (score is 94+)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2014 - dekehayes Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet color. Very smooth. Nice dark berries and dry forest on the nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2014 - Chasse_spleen wrote: 92 Points
A hedonistic experience. Dark fruits and dark chocolate, asphalt-like concentration, sweet Cali feeling but combined with good acidity. Long taste.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2014 - denisontb Likes this wine: 94 Points
Holy WOW. Had at Solbar in Calistoga and so delicious. Amazingly complex, robust and fruit forward. So much going on in the glass. Huge crowd pleaser, we had 2 bottles as a group. Wine of the night by far.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2014 - awise45 wrote: 94 Points
Hard to match the 08 but this come awful close -- wonderfully full and rich, deep purple, eggplant-skin color with lots of dark fruit and spice.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2014 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 95 Points
WOW! What an amazing bottle. Glad I have 1 more to drink. Shafer Relentless had so many characteristics.
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, black currant (cassis) and oak. It tastes like blackberry, black currant (cassis), cherry, oak and black pepper. The body is full. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2014 - Topper wrote:
This is possibly the densest wine I have ever tasted (and I've been at this for a long time). More like wine soup in the mouth, with more grip than a snow tire. It was literally undrinkable until the 4th day but then it started to show its eventual potential. I think it might be a good wine in 7 or 8 years but be careful til then.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2014 - jhieb wrote: 92 Points
Velvet in the mouth, and just a massive amount of fruit. Is this too big? Good stuff, but I'm hoping more nuances unveil in a few years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2013 - winelegends.net Likes this wine: 93 Points
93+
Extrem dunkles Rot mit schwarzem Kern.
Anfangs recht massiv,schwarzfruchtig,Kräuter,Lakritze,Alkohol spürbar.
Fleischig,dicht,geschliffene Tannine,leichte Vanille,Holz integriert.
Langer schwarzfruchtiger Abgang.
Nach 2-3 Stunden,schwarzfruchtig,würzig,Lakritze,Rauch,dunkle Schokolade.
Wird frischer,Mentholnote,rotfruchtig,leichte Vanille,erdig und Leder.
Samtiger Trinkfluss,geschliffene Tannine,Alkohol besser integriert,Fleischig,dicht,mundfüllend und eine gewisse Süsse.
Langer dunkelfruchtiger Abgang.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2013 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 94 Points
Already better than notes of 1/31/2013, especially on the 2nd day. Blackberry syrup, licorice, tobacco, a touch of herb...big, big but some stoney minerality provides grounding. Will be better in a year or so.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2013 - mayoiv Likes this wine: 95 Points
Loved this wine and promptly ordered more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2013 - Ceo wrote: 95 Points
Long decant finally opened up late. I will hold a little longer. Big Wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2013 - mmccull wrote: 90 Points
Very smooth. Not overly complex. Didn't take detailed notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2013 - yasha Likes this wine: 94 Points
great wine. drinking very good now, after about one hour of opening,
will be really good in a few years
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2013 - JDV.DDSPHD wrote: 91 Points
Really enjoyed this. Black and purple fruit. Big nose and big finish. This just continued to open up with chocolate and licorice. Smooth, rounded and showing complexity and depth. This is so much more than dark fruit. Some tobacco & sweet earthy notes.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2013 - GHL Likes this wine:
Initially strong bouquet and heavy fruit, but an hour after opening bouquet and fruit was gone. Possibly there is more underneath all the tannins but finished the bottle before I could find out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2013 - Rer wrote:
big, big ,big....needs long decant or a few more yrs
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2013 - Golfer 67 Likes this wine: 95 Points
I decanted this outstanding bottle of wine for 2hrs before severing at a dinner party we hosted with our friends. This is a very big wine it wraps around the palate with serious depth. We where all very impress with the 2009 Relentless. This wine will only get better with time but is very drinkable right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2013 - bigdogsteve wrote: 94 Points
Sweetness at immediate sip turning into a well balanced fruit (strong plumb). Fruit forward powerhouse that quickly transitioned to a firm tannin structured and gripping finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2013 - Jbird73 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep purple in color. Nose is intoxicating with pepper, licorice and dark fruits. Great balance throughout and medium finish is so enjoyable. Really like this wine a lot!! I need to find more than the two I have left.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2013 - bablues wrote: 94 Points
Took a little while to open up but once it did it was amazing. White pepper all around. Gorgeous black fruit. Short finish at first but then it shifted gears and had a long gripping finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2013 - RobertDwyer Likes this wine: 93 Points
A tremendous blockbuster of a wine. Massive, but it remains true to its Syrah roots with an appealing dark mineral driven flavor profile. Crazy-high 15.8% alcohol but it never feels heavy handed. Shafer has a great bottling here and though it's not cheap I think it delivers more enjoyment than most $60 Napa Cabs will.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2013 - Levinsb wrote: 95 Points
I've just been punched in the mouth by a blackberry! Lush balanced gorgeous. Huge. Not for everyday drinking you need to brace yourself for this über California expression of Syrah but wow they packed a lot into this bottle. I loved the note below on bubblegum because yeah it's in there. This is an experience in a glass
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2013 - btripodo wrote: 94 Points
Good balance. Smooth long finish. Enjoyed the smell of black fruit, spices, and oak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2013 - Uncle John wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 3 hours and let stand for 3 in the cellar. Lush dark fruit with mild acidity and a 30 second finish. The wine opened with diner of Filet with port reduction and rissoto. Maybe not as good as the 2008 but very close. Drink now with a long decant or wait 1-2 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2013 - pauljr1121 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Needs more time but so refined. Dark red fruit and rugged earth. I will not touch it for a few more years. Maybe with an extended decant I can crack one open. Cheers!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2013 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 94 Points
The color is ruby to purple and very dark and opaque. The smells are tar, blueberry, blackberry, pepper, and red licorice. The tastes are blueberry, pepper, blackberry, spice, raspberry, bubblegum (yeah I know, but yes), and subtle smoke. The acidity was a bit zingy and even though this was high alcohol, it was very precise and focused with silky tannins and a lengthy finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2013 - walkerjfw wrote: 95 Points
At PNV tasting. Consistent with prior notes, this is a big, lush Syrah. If you like the CA Style of this grape, this is one of the best examples
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2013 - Double-A wrote: 85 Points
Inky purple colour. Blackberry/currant fruit with cinnamon and vanilla spice. Big, big palate; concentrated, firm, hot finish.
3.5/5
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2013 - RobertWinesWeLove wrote: 91 Points
Stor fruktig doft. En hel del ek men inte så det stör. Välbalanserat, ungt men gott
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2013 - Brunellobuddy wrote: 94 Points
- Violet color - Excellent wine!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2013 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 92 Points
Enjoyed with a new york strip at Ruth Chris in Austin. Big, youthful wine with tons of dark berry and spice. Balanced by nice earthiness. decanted at the table but could have used a few more hours...score should improve with time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2013 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 94 Points
The color is purple and very dense and opaque. The smells are tar, currant, smoke, dark fruits, and camphor. The tastes are crushed blueberry, vanilla, cedar, hoison, pepper, raspberry, blackberry, and dark chocolate. This wine really started to open up as time passed and needed some air, but did it seem to shape-shift quite a bit as flavors took turns making there presence known and then giving way to the next! The structure is powerful but elegant and the tannins are sheer and silky The finish is lengthy and the acidity is pleasant. A complex wine that was multifaceted.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2013 - Joegish Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice bottle that opened up after 40 minutes. Nose is nowhere near the 08 - neither is the finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
1/6/2013 - parrothead Likes this wine: 91 Points
very nice although not the 2008. Dinner with Studer's and Rendevous ribs from Memphis
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2013 - Ex-Ray wrote: 92 Points
Big and full, but somewhat one-dimensional. Should gain in complexity given another couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2012 - J-Sho wrote: 95 Points
Wow this was a blockbuster. Dark in color with nose dripping of dark fruit, wild berry, mocha, and a hint of mineral. Full bodied and palate coating with silky tannins and a smooth long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2012 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 94 Points
Huge. Nose is spicebox and toasted marshmallows. Tastes are black pepper, dark fruit and leather. Long finish. Only concern is the balance isn't perfect. Other vintages have turned out great with time so this could be stellar in a few years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2012 - walkerjfw Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had with a group dinner at Del Frisco's New York. First experience with this wine, was looking for a high end crowd pleaser to complement the steaks.
This is a very big wine, not for someone interested in subtleties. Deep purple color. Nose is floral/ fruit. Classic Calif Syrah. Boysenberry, cedar, dark fruits, vanilla, mild spice, pepper.
Long fish - 30+ seconds. Excellent and unique wine from a great producer. Has a long life ahead of it, no doubt this will gain complexity in time
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2012 - WineCellarTV Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very dense and dark purple in the glass. Intense and vibrant!
Aromas of Dark red fruits. Blackberries, Cassis and Plums. Cacao with hints of Lilac, Spices and Anise. Some smoky characters. Remarkable!
More Dark Berries, like Black- and Blueberries, some Raspberry. Leaves, Floral characters. Obvious oak.
Finishes long with Fruits and some Pepper. Bright acidity embedded in a great structure with present tannins!
The Shafer 2009 relentless presents itself big and rich, but surprisingly balanced and structured.
See my Blog cellartv.wordpress.com for more details about this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2012 - Plus Ultra Likes this wine: 90 Points
I liked this, but had some reservations. Easy to drink. Not sure how it will improve with age. Fruit profile on the light side, but nice vanilla, spicy, dry finish. Would have enjoyed this more if fruit was more prominent. Will not buy again at full price.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2012 - wmccone54 wrote: 92 Points
Big and balanced probably one of the best Napa Syrahs
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2012 - cubswinws wrote: 94 Points
Exceptional. Dark rich in glass and wonderful mouth feel. Long spicy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment