It was a Friday not to long ago. Your Agents of Wine had just returned to HQ from a much-needed lunch break to taste a few more bottles before heading out.

We were tired. Looking forward to wrapping it up for the day.

And then…BOOM! THIS INKY MONSTER activated our spidey senses. This 94-point muscular BEAST, with “broad-shouldered power” raised eyebrows and perked us right up. And our purple-stained teeth shown when we heard the price.

But wait…Thurlow?

There are a lot of wineries in Napa, and it’s rare we don’t know one.

Where did the bottle come from? Who dropped it off again? A fury of aggressive emailing and frantic phone calls… and… WE FOUND IT!

Not available anywhere else – we were able to lock in an EYE-POPPING 65% OFF!

Founded in 2016, Thurlow Cellars has very quietly been making small lots of killer wines for the last decade. It is a celebration of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon grown in mountain soils. Their fruit hails from some of the best sites on Howell Mountain, Diamond Mountain, and Atlas Peak.

Further digging provided one more key detail. Winemaker Kevin Morrissey has been making it since its inception (till his recent retirement in 2024). His experience shows. While still in grad school at UC Davis he was offered a harvest internship at Petrus, working under the supervision of the LEGENDARY Jean-Claude Berrouet! From there he went from strength to strength, working with another legend, Tony Soter and eventually taking over for him at Stags’ Leap Winery and Etude for just over a decade before helming Ehler’s Estate for the following decade before signing with Thurlow Cellars. And you may also recognize his previous efforts in the Archer & Thorn and Ivy & Thistle wines we’ve offered in the past.

An impressive resumé that sings with every sip.

The 2022 ‘Kingsnake’ says Napa Valley on the label, but it’s from a superb mountain vineyard that is a closely guarded secret. Its forty-degree slopes and thin layer of red volcanic tufa ensure super-low yields of ultra-concentrated, structured fruit.

One sip is all it takes. A neutron star of density, fusing black and blue fruits, mocha, wild mountain herbs, cigar box, and exotic spices to a core of refined tannins – weighty as it glides languidly on the palate. The finish bides its time slowly, deliberately. And before you know it, you will swear there was a hole in the bottle as you pop the cork on another.

But at only three barrels produced, only a select few will know this pleasure. Brave souls who ACT FAST!

Once bitten, you too will fall in LOVE with this BEAST.

94 Points – The Tasting Panel “Dotted with black pepper and mocha-kissed oak, tobacco and graphite define this wine’s debut on the palate. Washed by black plum, its broad-shouldered power is relieved by a fine acid structure that opens up to a tarry finish with soy sauce, black tea, and sage.”

92 Points – Decanter “And how does the Kingsnake taste? It may not have a venomous bite, but it does deliver a high-toned herbaceous lift that mingles with red berry and redcurrant fruit, accented by a touch of rich cedarwood and spice. Medium-bodied, with angular, grippy tannins and a definite crunch of acidity. This isn’t the sort of Napa Cabernet to sip solo—it’s best enjoyed alongside burgers, well-salted braised meats, rich polenta, or dishes featuring morels or trumpet mushrooms. Drink 2024-2032.”