Shafer Relentless 2011
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine - Vinous
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
This wine honors long-time Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez and his relentless pursuit of quality. Sourced from a single ridgetop vineyard adjacent to the southern border of Stags Leap District, the grapes for Relentless are a proprietary blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah.
A bold wine like Relentless complements similar concentrated flavors found in dishes such as Syrah-braised short ribs, smoked lamb with Relentless reduction, roast duck, as well as beef and game. Aged, dry cheeses such as Cheddar, Abbaye De Belloc, and Manchego also pair deliciously.
Blend: 91% Syrah, 9% Petite Sirah
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From a more challenging vintage, the 2011 Relentless exhibits a similar opaque blue/purple color as well as remarkable concentration and balance. With stunning perfume, purity, texture and full-bodied richness, the 2011 is slightly more evolved and softer than the 2010, but it offers much of the same character. This compelling effort is one of the superstars of the vintage in 2011.
Range: 94-96 -
Wine Spectator
This big red brims with dark, rich, chunky blackberry and wild berry fruit, with notes of black licorice that edge toward prune. Maintaining a fine balance for its size, this is extracted, with firm, chewy, peppery tannins. Syrah and Petite Sirah. Best from 2015 through 2028.
-
Wine Enthusiast
There’s no denying the power in this wine, which contains Syrah and Petite Sirah sourced from one ridgetop Stags Leap District site. But in this case, power is a beautiful thing, sinewy and contained. Complex in plum, gamy meat and a lingering suggestion of coconut, it has size offset by the acidity, and a beguiling finish of cracked black pepper. Things will get more interesting in the cellar, through 2021–2026.
-
Vinous
The 2011 Relentless is bright, fresh and full of vivacity. Lively acids perk up a core of red-fleshed fruit. In the glass, the 2011 is lithe - as wines from this vintage are and yet its balance is absolutely impeccable. The first signs of aromatic development are starting to appear. I would not push my luck on aging, but the 2011 is pretty terrific now. I loved the 2011 from barrel, but then found it initially disappointing from bottle. This showing is more consistent with my first encounter. Superb.
Other Vintages
2019-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Panel
Tasting -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Panel
Tasting -
Spectator
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
-
Panel
Tasting -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Panel
Tasting -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Spirits
Wine & -
Guide
Connoisseurs'
-
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Panel
Tasting
-
Guide
Connoisseurs' -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Guide
Connoisseurs' -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Guide
Connoisseurs'
-
Parker
Robert
-
Spirits
Wine &
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine
Shafer Vineyards has produced classic Napa Valley wines for more than 40 years.
Shafer’s wines, including its signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Hillside Select, are found in collectors’ cellars and on wine lists in top luxury hotels and restaurants throughout the world.
The vineyard and cellar teams, led by winemaker Elias Fernandez, cultivate more than 200 acres of Shafer-owned vineyards, sources for the winery's celebrated Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay, TD-9, One Point Five, Relentless, and Hillside Select.
The winery has a decades-long commitment to sustainability. Beginning in the 1980s Shafer embraced farming techniques that eliminate insecticides and herbicides, and carefully conserve water resources. In 2004 Shafer became the first winery in the U.S. to go 100% solar.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.