2013 Shafer Relentless, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

This is a blend of 97% Syrah with 3% Petite Sirah. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright. The nose is tight but opens after about an hour. Spice, black raspberries, some smoke along with roasted meats and herbs and black pepper. Full bodied. Has a bit more elegance than prior vintages perhaps due to less Petite Sirah? On the palate, black raspberry fruit with underlying char and earth. Some black pepper, too. Nice finish. This may still improve a bit and while it drinks well now, it may be worth cellaring for another three to seven years. Either way, it will drink well for the next twelve to fifteen more years. Great on its own, this will work well with Indian food such an Tandoor Chicken.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2013

Current Price:

$90.00USD

2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. The 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008 was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective. Unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. The American wines were mostly from California (144 wineries), but a few examples from Arizona (2 wineries) and Washington State (5 wineries) were also included. While this is a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers aren’t represented, there is still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts. The events included two general tastings and a series of focused seminars.

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America’s Best Rhone Style Red Wines: 11th Annual Rhone Rangers Tasting Reviewed

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Last month we discussed the white Rhone style wines offered at the 2008 Rhone Rangers tasting event at Fort Mason in San Francisco on March 18. This month we turn to the reds, of which we tasted 50. Among those we tasted were some old favorites and some wineries or bottlings with which we were not yet familiar. We don’t pretend that we tasted a representative group of wines, because our sample was skewed to wines we have loved in the past and others about which we have heard positive comments.

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Top Ten California Syrahs - 2016

I tend to taste and drink a lot of wine over the course of a year. I am in a few tasting groups, sometimes the wines are consumed at various local wine store tastings and a number drunk with friends and family.

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2014 Shafer Relentless, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2014

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$80.00USD

This is a blend of 89% Syrah and 11% Petit Sirah. It takes time for the Petite to emerge and today, the Syrah is really the show. And a great show it is. Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black raspberries, char, violets, slight roasted meats and herbs. Full bodied with a lush texture. On the palate, juicy black raspberries with slight blueberries, and some underlying char and earthiness. Medium tannins. Long finish. This drinks great on its own and went well with a chocolate cake but would work well with Indian food or roasts as well.

2009 Shafer Relentless, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2009

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$90.00USD

This is a blend of 87% Syrah and 13% Petite Sirah. At age ten this is just starting to come into its own. We drank this side by side with a 1999 which was illustrative. Deep ruby in color with some purple swirls. The nose is big with black raspberries, char and minerals. A wonderful, full bodied texture. Black raspberry fruit over a char/mineral/earthy base. Tight layering with moderate tannins. Long finish. Delicious. This does have some upside as it mature and comes together. If opening now, give it a few hours in a decanter. This drinks great on its own and will work well wit

2013 Shafer Relentless, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

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2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

America’s Best Rhone Style Red Wines: 11th Annual Rhone Rangers Tasting Reviewed

Top Ten California Syrahs - 2016

2014 Shafer Relentless, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

2009 Shafer Relentless, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review