2023 Thurlow Cellars Crotalus Wine Red Blend Napa Valley

Thurlow Cellars is a modern-day tribute to Napa Valley's elite winemaking tradition. Born in the high-elevation vineyards of Howell Mountain, Diamond Mountain, and Atlas Peak, this blend captures the essence of Napa Valley’s prized terroir. Since 2016, Thurlow Cellars has been steadfast in its pursuit of excellence, operating with a deep respect for the land and a commitment to sustainable practices.

Winemaker Kevin Morrissey brings a unique vision to Thurlow Cellars. Kevin’s journey to Thurlow Cellars is as unique as the wine he creates. A former NYU film student turned Napa Valley winemaker, Morrissey’s career began with an unlikely pivot from Hollywood to the legendary vineyards of Bordeaux, where he interned at Chateau Pétrus. That experience sparked a passion for winemaking that’s led him to Napa, where he honed his skills with celebrated vintners like Tony Soter at Stags’ Leap and Etude.

Under the skilled eye of winemaker Kevin Morrissey, each vineyard block is treated with precision. From cold soaking to gentle fermentation in small stainless steel tanks, every detail is attended to with care. Thurlow Cellars’ commitment to quality shines through in its minimal intervention methods—wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered, allowing the true character of the grapes to speak.

Each vineyard block is treated like its own masterpiece—de-stemmed by hand and dropped into small stainless tanks and barrels for precision control. The fruit gets a long, cold soak before warming up and kicking into fermentation, unlocking every ounce of color, texture, and power. Only nine barrels were crafted this vintage, using just two elite coopers—Taransaud and St. Martin Cooperage—to keep the profile laser-focused and exacting.

Slightly different blend ratios than the previous vintage, the 2023 Crotalus is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Syrah, 4% Merlot - remaining a pure delight with a defining grip. This small batch was blended for great intensity, balanced weight, and vibrant fresh acidity.

The vineyard’s shifting soils demand multiple harvest passes, each cluster picked at its peak. Yields sit at a razor-low 1.8 tons per acre—tiny production that delivers massive intensity.

The 2023 Napa Valley vintage isn’t just another great year – it’s the year that will be etched in history. Wine experts are calling it "the vintage of a lifetime," and for good reason. The perfect blend of cool temperatures, morning fog, and balanced sunlight created conditions so exceptional that they’re being compared to Bordeaux's iconic 1961 vintage. As The Wine Independent put it, 2023 is "a winemaker's dream in terms of wine style." Wine Bible author Karen MacNeil calls it "one of the most phenomenal vintages ever in Napa Valley." This is Napa at its finest, with wines of depth, power, and elegance that will be the talk of the wine world for decades to come.