Shafer Relentless Napa Valley 2016

96 points Jeb Dunnuck: "I’ve consistently loved the Relentless cuvée from this team, which is always from a single vineyard and is Syrah-dominated, with about 10% Petite Sirah in the blend. The 2016 Relentless is sensational. Dense purple-hued with a sweet bouquet of jammy blackberries, ground pepper, charcoal, and some smoky, meaty notes, it’s a full-bodied, powerful, yet plush, even elegant Syrah that does everything right. Drink it any time over the coming 10-15 years. Drink: 2020-2035. (1/31/20)"

95 points Wine Enthusiast: "This combination of 90% Syrah and 10% Petite Sirah is memorable in its mix of wild herb and violet. Bright, thick layers of blackberry and blueberry dance along a mineral-laden core of crushed rock, wet stone and supple tannins. Alcohol 15.8%. (Apr 2020)"

94 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2016 Relentless is a rich, dense, powerful wine. Thirty-two months in barrel yields a sumptuous Syrah-based wine rich in texture and loaded with personality. Dark red fruit, cedar, tobacco, menthol and dried herbs add complexity to a Syrah-based red built on texture and weight. Drink: 2020-2030. (Jan 2020)"

93 points James Suckling: "Strikingly fresh mountain herbs and blueberries, as well as a cedary and dark-stony edge with earthy nuances, too. The palate has a gently grainy feel with sleek, vibrant berry aromas and delivers a striking mix of berries and chocolate at the long, detailed finish. A blend of 90% syrah and 10% petite sirah. Drink or hold. (2/14/20)"

92 points Wine Spectator: "A gutsy red, with a polished texture and expressive blueberry and blackberry flavors, accented by smoky sage, espresso and pepper notes and finishing with well-framed tannins. Syrah and Petite Sirah. Best from 2021 through 2028. (3/31/20)"

92 points and 'Very highly recommended,' California Grapevine: "Medium-dark to dark ruby; attractive, deep, ripe, intense, black cherry and blackberry fruit aroma with spicy notes and hints of black pepper, wet stone, smoked meat, and saddle leather; full body; big, deep, concentrated, dark berry fruit flavors with notes of savory spices, licorice, and black pepper, and plummy richness in the mouthfeel; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Approachable now, though deserving a good several more years of bottle aging. 15.8% alcohol; 3,300 cases; blended with 10% Petite Sirah; released September 2019. (Jan 2020)"

Producer notes: "The 2016 Relentless offers deep, elegant, meaty, gamey aromas and flavors that are pure Syrah. These are fused with blueberry, black pepper, wet stone, and black tea. The vintage offers an ideal balance of immensity and energy, along with a beautiful, silken texture in the mouth, a lengthy finish, and ripe tannins that promise many rich, memorable years ahead."