92 -94 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, June 2005

This wine was recommended, but no tasting note was given.

92 -94 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, February 2005

Named after their talented viticulturalist and winemaker, Elias Fernandez, the Relentless cuvee was introduced a few years ago and is a blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Petite Sirah aged 32 months in 100% new French oak. It is a terrific wine, and the good news is that there are about 2,500 cases produced. The 2002 Relentless has an inky purple color to the rim, a big, sweet nose of vanilla, pepper, blue and blackberry fruit, and some chocolate and espresso roast in a sweet, plush, full-bodied palate with high tannin, glycerin, and extract. It should drink well for 10-12 years.

92 -94 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, December 2003

Possibly the finest Relentless yet produced, the 2002 (80% Syrah and 20% Petite Syrah) emerges from an 18-acre vineyard in the Oak Knoll section of Napa Valley. Its inky purple color borders on black. The big, sweet nose offers a smorgasbord of aromas, including vanilla, chocolate, pepper, leather, earth, and blackberry liqueur. Full-bodied and powerful, yet seamless on the palate, it should drink well for a decade after its release.

95 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, December 2005

The brainchild of winemaker/viticulturist Elias Fernandez, the Relentless (a blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Petite Sirah aged 32 months in 100% new French oak) has been a fabulous success since its debut vintage. There are 2,500 cases of this remarkable cuvee. The inky/purple-hued 2002 Relentless possesses a fabulously exuberant, extroverted nose of black fruits, creosote, flowers, and pepper along with huge, sweet blueberry, chocolaty, espresso notes. Flamboyant, rich, full-bodied, and intense, but not overweight, it will drink well for 10-12 years.

88 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, February 2006

($62; 80% syrah with 20% petite sirah) Good full ruby. Musky aromas of bitter chocolate and espresso turned oakier with aeration. Bright, penetrating black raspberry fruit offers excellent intensity but comes across as a bit hard-edged. Turned a bit drier on the back end under its load of oak. 88 points

91 points,

Wine Enthusiast, September 2005

Epitomizes the rich, extracted style of Napa Syrah, cramming jammy blackberries onto a large, sturdy structure, framed by considerable toasty oak. Yet despite the concentration, it doesn't lack for complexity; there are hints of coffee, chocolate, meat and leather to be sniffed out, and these should become even more notable after cellaring...

94 points,

Wine Spectator, November 2005

A tremendous wine from the start, with captivating aromas of rich currant, beef, blackberry and wild berry. Tightly focused and impeccably balanced, this offers wonderful complexity and depth with a long, rich, intense finish. Syrah and Petite Sirah. Drink now through 2010. 2,500 cases made. (JL)

About Winery

Shafer Vineyards traces its beginnings to 1972 when John Shafer left a 23-year career in the publishing industry and, with his family, moved to the Napa Valley to pursue a second career in wine. After purchasing a 210-acre estate in Napa Valley's Stags Leap District, the Shafer family faced the arduous task of replanting the existing vineyards, which dated to the 1920s, and terracing the steep and rocky hillsides, eventually expanding vineyard acreage to its current 50 acres.Evolving from grape growers to vintners, the Shafers crushed their first Cabernet grapes in 1978 and began construction on their winery a year later.

The first Shafer Cabernet became a benchmark, winning the acclaimed San Francisco Vintners Club taste-off upon release and, over a decade later taking first place in an international blind tasting held in Germany, where it outranked such wines as Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour and Chateau Palmer.

Doug Shafer became winemaker in 1983 after graduating from the University of California at Davis with a degree in enology and viticulture. A year later Elias Fernandez joined the winery as assistant winemaker. Together Doug and Elias have worked closely to forge the Shafer style of quality, consistency and elegance.

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