Reviews & Ratings

2005 Shafer Vineyards Syrah & Shiraz (Other than French) "Relentless"

Winery: Shafer Vineyards

Vintage: 2005

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Relentless"

Wine Category: Syrah & Shiraz (Other than French)

Grape blend: 78% Syrah & 22% Petite Sirah

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Napa Valley

State or country: CA

Price: $70

Cases produced: 3,500

KWG Score: 91 (based on 7 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Excellent (94)

Review date: August 5, 2009

Wine Review: Each year Shafer "Relentless" is one of the top Syrahs coming out of California. The 2005 vintage is no exception. This very dark opaque purple colored wine opens with a fragrant blend of spicy blueberry and boysenberry. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, very well balanced, and fruit forward. The flavor profile is a big spicy delicious blackberry with notes of pepper and boysenberry. The finish is rather dry and its building tingly tannins are quite lengthy and relentless. Sorry, had to do it. Pair this wine with a big rack of Memphis styled barbecue ribs. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: "The flavors and aromas are immense, round, mouthfilling and long-lived with a luscious blend of rich blackberry, black plums, meatiness from the Syrah and a dose of blueberry from the Petite Sirah. The tannins are ripe and long-lived, with a lengthy, pleasing finish." — ELIAS FERNANDEZ

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Shafer 2005 Relentless.