2007 Syrah Relentless
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Tasting notes
A blend of 84% Syrah and 16% Petite Sirah, the 2007 Relentless displays a very deep purple-black color and slightly closed, rather broody, still youthful nose of crushed blackberries, warm black plums and baked blueberries with touches of tar, licorice, chargrill and black peppercorns plus a waft of garrigue. Full-bodied and decadently fruited on the mouth, it fills the palate with juicy black fruit and peppery layers, framed by firm, rounded tannins and finishing long and spicy.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
(84% syrah blended with 16% petite sirah): Distinctly musky aromas of dark berries and dark chocolate. Lush, sweet and concentrated, with fine-grained, rather polite dark berry and pepper flavors nicely framed by harmonious acidity. The lightly musky quality adds sex appeal to this very young wine. Finishes with broad, suave tannins and excellent length. This is built to age. (I should note that my first sample of this wine, tasted at the winery, had a more funky muskiness and seemed less sweet than this bottle.)
Similar to the ’06, and the same blend and oak treatment (84% Syrah and 16% Petit Sirah, aged 30 months in 100% new French oak), the 2007 Shafer Relentless possesses smoky blackberry, plum and cassis fruit that’s supported by sweet oak, graphite, and violets notes on the nose. There’s a healthy dose of oak showing, but it’s very well done and should integrate with additional bottle age. Full bodied with a pure, layered personality, good acidity, and a focused, well-structured finish, this is delicious now, but should benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age, and drink well for a decade or longer.
About the producer
The site of Shafer has been around since 1880, and grapes continued to be grown here, even during prohibition. It is said that some wine was made here during that time. In 1972, John Shafer bought the property in the Stag’s Leap district, he immediately began planting the Cabernet on the hillside.