Similar to my tasting note in 2022. Fruit forward and primary. Does not scream Syrah varietal. Just drinks like a good well made California new world wine. Not a memorable wine, however.
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First of 3 ($66@) from an auction lots just over a year ago. On the nose, black and blueberries, black currants, violets, rocky minerality, mixed ground herbs, smoked meats, tobacco and tar. Purplish black, full bodied, thick legs. Potent tannins becoming silkier and integrating with time, medium acidity, no heat. VG+ complexity, intensity and persistence. Well, I was looking for a Rhone varietal and may not have chosen this one but for 1) recent notes saying it was ready, 2) a lack of older choices, and 3) having 2 more, so a bit of experimenting wasn’t going to be fatal. This came out tarry, tannic and pretty tight, loosening its grip steadily but not completely over 2 nights so that the last glass was best. I’m bullish on this bottling (and Shafer generally) as I like where it sits in the Syrah pantheon, certainly not a cool climate variant, but also unlikely to be confused with its Central Coast cousins, often delicious but so big as to be hard to pair and often at Cab-like nosebleeding prices. The backbone here made it a hit with stuffed poblanos one night and orzo another, in each instance suffused with chicken, although I think this would stand up well with red meat and spicier dishes. This was quite nice as I was finishing it, but unless you have multiple bottles, can give it significant air or like pretty stiff tannins, I’d give this another 18 months-2 years—I will for my next bottle—before popping at which point I think my score may add another point of 2. Nicely done. 93+
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Lots of blackberry notes on the nose. Long finish some tannins on finish. Dark fruit jam on palate with a spicy finish. Great wine but decant for 3 hours.
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Plum, black cherry, smoked meat, black olives. I'm luckt to have one more in my cellar. Very drinkable now, it really grows during the evening, this is pure class from Shafer. But will be evan better within 5 years.
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Otrolligt bra. Detta är ett sånt vin som man kan sitta och lukta på en hel kväll. Otroligt stort. Världsklass. Vi körde det till hamburgare och steak, vilket passade som handen i handsken.
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Not bad. Never had this wine before and it was OK. Not sure what else I can say… Don’t think I’ll be in a rush to buy this again. I think there’s better options for 140 cad$
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Had this wine togther with 6 other wines, but the fruit was remarkable. Plum, black cherry, smoked meat, black olives. I'm luckt to have one more in my cellar. Very drinkable now, but will be evan better within 5 years.
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Dark ruby/purple. Elias’ Syrah is so bold, full-throttle, aggressive, in your face, and .. relentless! The name is apt and for Elias’ work ethic year after year at Shafer. Expressive and dark notes of black fruits, wild flowers, pepper, smoke, olives, leather, grilled meats, and fried herbs. Chewy tannins on a long warm finish. This can go another 5-8 years! cheers!
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Nose of black berry fruit and oak. Tastes of purple and black berries with oak spice, red meat and vanilla. Deep mid-palate with long finish. Medium acidity. Medium tannins. Great match with burgers, Swiss and mushrooms on the grill. Terrific bottle of wine! 92-93.
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Ended my 30 day detox today with this bottle tonight. Purple color with the slightest hint of some brown. Red fruit on the nose along with pepper and maybe bacon fat. Long thick legs. Little tannins which surprised me. Finish was long. On the palate I experienced more generic red fruit, pepper, tobacco, with a bitter aftertaste. It’s possible that this will benefit from more air but glass one was a disappointment at this price point. Will update notes if the wine evolves over the next several hours.
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Two hour decant. Nearly opaque electric magenta color. Oreo cookie, black cherry compote, wild strawberry, anise, and subtle salami on the nose. Smooth, dry, full bodied palate, with good acidity. Full tannins on the longish finish.
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Tasted after 2 hour decant. Nose of blackberry, loam and subtle minerality. Palate is similar--savory and brooding with a ferrous minerality. Fine tannins on the finish.
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2.5 hour decant but was still slightly tight. Started revealing alot and evolving 3 hours in.
Color: Dark dark red with a purple tinge.
Nose: Dark cherry, leather, blackberry jam, baked cherry tart, spice box with cinnamon and cloves, smokey tar.
Palate: Strong and very polished tannins, full bodied with a velvety and smooth mouthfeel. Feels rich and luxurious but refined, concentrated and elegant. Black fruits, plum, black pepper, salinity and savoury feel with asphalt and minerality. The barrel influence is one of the best I've ever tried, it is completely integrated and the wine is fully balanced in this aspect. As the wine is sitting in the decanter and getting more air, the fruit is taking a backseat and a more savory/chewy character is evolving. Makes you feel like you want to eat this as much as drink it. The finish is massive, with a beautiful aftertaste of dark forest fruits and leather lasting minutes.
The purity of the fruit and elegant mouthfeel is what sets this wine apart. World class, my first Shafer wine, and I am extremely impressed. I think this needs to age for 3-5 years for the tannins to fully soften. 95 points
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Oenocosmos tasting (Athens Hill): Syrah & petite syrah The wine is heavily oaked from the start, tight, ripe red fruit, black fruit, extremely hot from alcohol. In the palate, the wine shows fresh red fruit, cherries, currants, tannins tight but not aggressive, heavy oak again, sweet spices, full body, long finish. Very difficult as it is
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Decanted for two hours. Intense nose of plums and blackberries - very primary and straightforward. The palate shows great acidity with more intense dark fruits - not jammy mind it - and then a long, lingering finish with grippy tannins and some oak and white pepper notes. Wait 4-5 years if you can!
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Still very dark, and the tannins are not yet fully integrated. Decanted for an hour which was essential; recommend at least two hours. Not sorry I opened it - it was lovely! - but will wait longer to open my other bottle. I suspect the score will go up at least a point. I waffled between 93 and 94 as it was.
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Dense purple. Black fruits. Full bodied, rich and savory. Smooth and balanced. Hearty with resolved tannins and a long finish. Steady eddy every vintage.
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Even with a splash decant and a couple hours the fruit only slightly blossomed. Can taste this coiled up tight Syrah hiding in the midst. Will be fantastic
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Quite massive a strong delicious Nose, tons of fruit , blue and blackberry fruit, Sweet and herbaceous and floral. Knowing it’s a Syrah I could see how if blind could be confused for Cabernet. Really rich fruit, typical of the great Shafers. On the palate, more of the same. Pretty balanced for how big and mouth staining it is. Long tannic, salty savory finish. Excellent from an enjoyment standpoint, but the super rich and fruity fruit dominate and somewhat overtake the more classic Syrah characteristics.
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Slow ox for two hours. Wine was very hot and shut down. Very acidic with somewhat bitter black fruit, with heavy notes of blackberry, spice and cassis. For the price point not a good value QPR, though in about 5 years things could change. I would not recommend opening this wine prior to 2023.
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Blueberry and blackberry on the nose. Not picking up a ton of oak, which this wine sometimes shows at this stage. This Relentless spent 30 months in French oak, which seems like a lot. The palate is very concentrated with ripe blueberries and blackberries. Even some notes of mocha in this young Syrah blend (90%, with 10% of Petite Sirah). Silky tannins are very complementary to the fruit and acidity. Well balanced and not at all flabby, even though it weighs in at nearly 16% ABV! Well done, as usual. Drink now or whenever; Shafer wines, even their high alcohol editions, do very well (and improve) with age.
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Deep purple color. So much to unpack on the nose, it’s kind of crazy. Gorgeous boysenberry, blueberry and blackberry fruit, tossed with waves of pepper, anise, clove, leather, charcoal and espresso elements. Obviously full-bodied and burly, this is big stuff but the acidity actually keeps it lip-smacking in spite of its richness. The freshest, sweetness blueberries and blackberries, and the fruit is laced with leather, pepper, spicy herbs, charcoal and rocky earth tones. Complex and rich, yet effortless and pure — a beautiful young Relentless that is built the long haul (a decade at least would do it good). Syrah and 10% Petite Sirah, aged 30 months in all new French oak.
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Nose: Stacked melange of blue fruits: blueberry, blackberry, and black currant sound off in front of a smoky pepper note. Jumps out of the glass.
Mouth: Blueberry, black currant, boysenberry notes glide through effortlessly on a smooth frame ahead of a limestone note. Sweet tannins are here adding well to the overall picture.
Overall: Stacked but still clean, this ends up easy, smooth, and offers a nicely packaged treatment on Cali syrah.
91.
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3/20/2024 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Similar to my tasting note in 2022. Fruit forward and primary. Does not scream Syrah varietal. Just drinks like a good well made California new world wine. Not a memorable wine, however.
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3/10/2024 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
First of 3 ($66@) from an auction lots just over a year ago. On the nose, black and blueberries, black currants, violets, rocky minerality, mixed ground herbs, smoked meats, tobacco and tar. Purplish black, full bodied, thick legs. Potent tannins becoming silkier and integrating with time, medium acidity, no heat. VG+ complexity, intensity and persistence. Well, I was looking for a Rhone varietal and may not have chosen this one but for 1) recent notes saying it was ready, 2) a lack of older choices, and 3) having 2 more, so a bit of experimenting wasn’t going to be fatal. This came out tarry, tannic and pretty tight, loosening its grip steadily but not completely over 2 nights so that the last glass was best. I’m bullish on this bottling (and Shafer generally) as I like where it sits in the Syrah pantheon, certainly not a cool climate variant, but also unlikely to be confused with its Central Coast cousins, often delicious but so big as to be hard to pair and often at Cab-like nosebleeding prices. The backbone here made it a hit with stuffed poblanos one night and orzo another, in each instance suffused with chicken, although I think this would stand up well with red meat and spicier dishes. This was quite nice as I was finishing it, but unless you have multiple bottles, can give it significant air or like pretty stiff tannins, I’d give this another 18 months-2 years—I will for my next bottle—before popping at which point I think my score may add another point of 2. Nicely done. 93+
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2/16/2024 - ajm2573 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lots of blackberry notes on the nose. Long finish some tannins on finish. Dark fruit jam on palate with a spicy finish. Great wine but decant for 3 hours.
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2/4/2024 - kitkat4 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rich jammy and full of dark fruit....elderberry, black raspberry, blackberry. Touch of sandlewood and herbs. Perfumed nose with a touch of violet.
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12/20/2023 - econnertx Likes this wine: 87 Points
Deep ruby purple, dark cherry aftertaste, some dried plum; minor tannins, did not scream Syrah blend
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11/23/2023 - parrothead wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic wine. Enjoyed with Thanksgiving dinner, baby back ribs, not turkey.
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10/5/2023 - iguessitshank Likes this wine: 95 Points
Terrific nose, dark fruit, tobacco, clove.
A lot of fruit up front without being cloying.
Tannins were round and sweet. Peppercorn, coffee, anise, clove. Inky, sweet, long.
Am going to buy more and keep for another 5-10 years. Complexity was good (9 years) and think there is more to come.
Would recommend a 3+ hour decant, drank great at 5 hours.
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9/16/2023 - SirJ Likes this wine: 93 Points
Plum, black cherry, smoked meat, black olives. I'm luckt to have one more in my cellar. Very drinkable now, it really grows during the evening, this is pure class from Shafer. But will be evan better within 5 years.
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8/23/2023 - DigitalC Likes this wine:
Excellent
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6/24/2023 - johhenrik Likes this wine: 95 Points
Otrolligt bra. Detta är ett sånt vin som man kan sitta och lukta på en hel kväll. Otroligt stort. Världsklass. Vi körde det till hamburgare och steak, vilket passade som handen i handsken.
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3/18/2023 - Adamb2 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I thought this was really well structured and had great balance and fruit. I really enjoyed!
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1/15/2023 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 90 Points
Still some oak on the nose and palate yet to integrated. Dark fruits and rounded palate.
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1/13/2023 - greedy wrote: 88 Points
Not bad. Never had this wine before and it was OK. Not sure what else I can say… Don’t think I’ll be in a rush to buy this again. I think there’s better options for 140 cad$
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1/2/2023 - dlcass Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful elegant nose. Very nice texture and mouth feel. Early notes: some tannins but elegant mineral driven style. We'll see how it evolves.
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11/29/2022 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Better than I remember from the last time I had it. Some bottle age has rewarded the wine. While improved, it is still very primary and fruit forward.
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10/15/2022 - SirJ Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had this wine togther with 6 other wines, but the fruit was remarkable. Plum, black cherry, smoked meat, black olives. I'm luckt to have one more in my cellar. Very drinkable now, but will be evan better within 5 years.
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10/8/2022 - Cablover1982 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Dark ruby/purple. Elias’ Syrah is so bold, full-throttle, aggressive, in your face, and .. relentless! The name is apt and for Elias’ work ethic year after year at Shafer. Expressive and dark notes of black fruits, wild flowers, pepper, smoke, olives, leather, grilled meats, and fried herbs. Chewy tannins on a long warm finish. This can go another 5-8 years! cheers!
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9/27/2022 - xboomer wrote: 92 Points
Very good Syrah
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7/2/2022 - Bbrown82 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark ruby almost purple. Blackberry and oak on the nose. Blackberry, cherry, and oak on the palate. Notes of pepper mild tannins. Really good Syrah.
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6/5/2022 - ralaspech wrote: 93 Points
Nose of black berry fruit and oak. Tastes of purple and black berries with oak spice, red meat and vanilla. Deep mid-palate with long finish. Medium acidity. Medium tannins. Great match with burgers, Swiss and mushrooms on the grill. Terrific bottle of wine! 92-93.
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4/26/2022 - MichelNL Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had it at a tasting. No note but absolutely loved it.
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3/15/2022 - CubFan4Life wrote: 87 Points
Ended my 30 day detox today with this bottle tonight. Purple color with the slightest hint of some brown. Red fruit on the nose along with pepper and maybe bacon fat. Long thick legs. Little tannins which surprised me. Finish was long. On the palate I experienced more generic red fruit, pepper, tobacco, with a bitter aftertaste. It’s possible that this will benefit from more air but glass one was a disappointment at this price point. Will update notes if the wine evolves over the next several hours.
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3/10/2022 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 93 Points
Two hour decant. Nearly opaque electric magenta color. Oreo cookie, black cherry compote, wild strawberry, anise, and subtle salami on the nose. Smooth, dry, full bodied palate, with good acidity. Full tannins on the longish finish.
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3/4/2022 - Kbentley007 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep purple and inky, no sediment, 90 minute decant. Just excellent vintage of Relentless. Drinking really well now, tannins integrated.
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12/8/2021 - ralaspech wrote: 91 Points
Tasted after 2 hour decant. Nose of blackberry, loam and subtle minerality. Palate is similar--savory and brooding with a ferrous minerality. Fine tannins on the finish.
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12/3/2021 - ta75 Likes this wine: 95 Points
2.5 hour decant but was still slightly tight. Started revealing alot and evolving 3 hours in.
Color: Dark dark red with a purple tinge.
Nose: Dark cherry, leather, blackberry jam, baked cherry tart, spice box with cinnamon and cloves, smokey tar.
Palate: Strong and very polished tannins, full bodied with a velvety and smooth mouthfeel. Feels rich and luxurious but refined, concentrated and elegant. Black fruits, plum, black pepper, salinity and savoury feel with asphalt and minerality. The barrel influence is one of the best I've ever tried, it is completely integrated and the wine is fully balanced in this aspect. As the wine is sitting in the decanter and getting more air, the fruit is taking a backseat and a more savory/chewy character is evolving. Makes you feel like you want to eat this as much as drink it. The finish is massive, with a beautiful aftertaste of dark forest fruits and leather lasting minutes.
The purity of the fruit and elegant mouthfeel is what sets this wine apart. World class, my first Shafer wine, and I am extremely impressed. I think this needs to age for 3-5 years for the tannins to fully soften. 95 points
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12/1/2021 - kostaslonis wrote:
Oenocosmos tasting (Athens Hill): Syrah & petite syrah
The wine is heavily oaked from the start, tight, ripe red fruit, black fruit, extremely hot from alcohol.
In the palate, the wine shows fresh red fruit, cherries, currants, tannins tight but not aggressive, heavy oak again, sweet spices, full body, long finish. Very difficult as it is
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11/25/2021 - Stemidoc Likes this wine: 99 Points
Amazing
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11/20/2021 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for two hours. Intense nose of plums and blackberries - very primary and straightforward. The palate shows great acidity with more intense dark fruits - not jammy mind it - and then a long, lingering finish with grippy tannins and some oak and white pepper notes. Wait 4-5 years if you can!
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10/24/2021 - kmforster Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still very dark, and the tannins are not yet fully integrated. Decanted for an hour which was essential; recommend at least two hours. Not sorry I opened it - it was lovely! - but will wait longer to open my other bottle. I suspect the score will go up at least a point. I waffled between 93 and 94 as it was.
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10/21/2021 - mvande21 wrote: 94 Points
Dense purple. Black fruits. Full bodied, rich and savory. Smooth and balanced. Hearty with resolved tannins and a long finish. Steady eddy every vintage.
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3/23/2021 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Even with a splash decant and a couple hours the fruit only slightly blossomed. Can taste this coiled up tight Syrah hiding in the midst. Will be fantastic
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2/9/2021 - Wine G Likes this wine: 92 Points
Quite massive a strong delicious Nose, tons of fruit , blue and blackberry fruit, Sweet and herbaceous and floral. Knowing it’s a Syrah I could see how if blind could be confused for Cabernet. Really rich fruit, typical of the great Shafers. On the palate, more of the same. Pretty balanced for how big and mouth staining it is. Long tannic, salty savory finish. Excellent from an enjoyment standpoint, but the super rich and fruity fruit dominate and somewhat overtake the more classic Syrah characteristics.
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12/27/2020 - jbo77 wrote:
Gift from Scott - Christmas 2020
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11/4/2020 - ajm2573 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Needs more time.
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11/1/2020 - TXRDW wrote: 91 Points
Slow ox for two hours. Wine was very hot and shut down. Very acidic with somewhat bitter black fruit, with heavy notes of blackberry, spice and cassis. For the price point not a good value QPR, though in about 5 years things could change. I would not recommend opening this wine prior to 2023.
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10/25/2020 - winebytoth Likes this wine: 93 Points
Black pepper, violet, silkiness. Opens up after about 30 minutes to be richer and softer.
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7/8/2020 - SWHighlander Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep purple color. Big California wine, with acidity and some tannins. Enjoyable, but may improve over the next 10 years.
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5/22/2020 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 95 Points
Blueberry and blackberry on the nose. Not picking up a ton of oak, which this wine sometimes shows at this stage. This Relentless spent 30 months in French oak, which seems like a lot. The palate is very concentrated with ripe blueberries and blackberries. Even some notes of mocha in this young Syrah blend (90%, with 10% of Petite Sirah). Silky tannins are very complementary to the fruit and acidity. Well balanced and not at all flabby, even though it weighs in at nearly 16% ABV! Well done, as usual. Drink now or whenever; Shafer wines, even their high alcohol editions, do very well (and improve) with age.
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4/23/2020 - Winowhyno Likes this wine: 93 Points
Spicy bouquet of bold fruit. Strong nose and great finish. Probably should have laid down, but I bought 4 so I had to open 1.
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4/5/2020 - BigJohnsJuicyRed wrote:
Still quite young, but smooth. Not very complex. I am not sure it will get there. Pleasant nonetheless.
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3/29/2020 - Race crew Likes this wine: 91 Points
A lot of alcohol. Needs to open.
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11/7/2019 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 96 Points
Deep purple color. So much to unpack on the nose, it’s kind of crazy. Gorgeous boysenberry, blueberry and blackberry fruit, tossed with waves of pepper, anise, clove, leather, charcoal and espresso elements. Obviously full-bodied and burly, this is big stuff but the acidity actually keeps it lip-smacking in spite of its richness. The freshest, sweetness blueberries and blackberries, and the fruit is laced with leather, pepper, spicy herbs, charcoal and rocky earth tones. Complex and rich, yet effortless and pure — a beautiful young Relentless that is built the long haul (a decade at least would do it good). Syrah and 10% Petite Sirah, aged 30 months in all new French oak.
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10/17/2019 - peeks13 wrote:
Cellar Night at Binnys South Loop (Chicago, IL): Rich and with a nice relaxed finish. 90 syrah / 10 PS.
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10/13/2019 - RoyaltyCoins wrote: 91 Points
Medium purple.
Nose: Stacked melange of blue fruits: blueberry, blackberry, and black currant sound off in front of a smoky pepper note. Jumps out of the glass.
Mouth: Blueberry, black currant, boysenberry notes glide through effortlessly on a smooth frame ahead of a limestone note. Sweet tannins are here adding well to the overall picture.
Overall: Stacked but still clean, this ends up easy, smooth, and offers a nicely packaged treatment on Cali syrah.
91.
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