Shafer Relentless Napa Valley 2016 750ml

Shafer Vineyards is a Stags Leap District winery, and Elias Fernandez is its winemaker. Relentless is the estate's Syrah-led red.

According to Shafer's 2016 tech sheet, the blend is 90% Syrah and 10% Petite Sirah from ridgetop and foothill sites in the Vaca Mountains, just south of the Stags Leap District. It spent 30 months in 100% new French oak from Allier and Tronçais forests, in 60-gallon barrels. The 2016 season followed a wet winter and spring after drought years, then ran long and warm. The wine was released on 1 September 2019 and is 15.8% alcohol.

The winery describes "meaty, gamey" Syrah character with blueberry, black pepper, wet stone and black tea, a silky texture, ripe tannins and a long finish.

Against K Vintners King Coal 2016, Relentless is the Syrah-led, oak-rich choice; for a Napa red to cellar, choose Relentless.

Jeb Dunnuck suggests drinking it over 10 to 15 years from his review, and the winery says it develops for many years. Decant it and serve it with lamb or braised beef.

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