2011 Syrah Relentless
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Tasting notes
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.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2011 Relentless shows the limits of the year. There is good immediacy to the fruit, but a bit less in the way of mid-palate density. Blue and black fruits, smoke, licorice, orange peel and cinnamon add nuance in an attractive, mid-weight wine to drink now and over the next few years. In this vintage, the Petite Sirah is a bit lower than normal.
The 2011 Syrah Relentless is certainly one of the lighter versions of this wine, but still merits an outstanding 92-point rating. A blend of 91% Syrah and 9% Petite Sirah, this wine shows more of a French style than other vintages because there is a hint of austerity and structural tannin that can be noticed through the roasted herbs, meaty blackberry and blackcurrant flavors and hints of blueberry and lavender. This is spicy, earthy, medium to full-bodied and probably will be the easiest and quickest to mature fully of any vintage of Relentless to date. Consume it over the next decade.
Blackberry jam, wild flowers, graphite, pencil shavings and orange peel all jump from the glass in the 2011 Relentless. Here the flavors are quite a bit more aromatic and savory than in the 2010, with firm tannins that will preserve the wine for years. Another super-impressive wine from Shafer, the 2011 is showing beautifully today. Readers will need to be a little patient in allowing the wine to fully come together in bottle. The blend is 91% Syrah and 9% Petite Sirah. (check)
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.