THIS is the kind of deal we live for!

One born from tight relationships with our wine industry sisters and brothers in arms… Seriously, how else can you discover a tiny new project (just 190 cases of this made) from THE Heidi Barrett and her daughters, like the lovely Remi, Wine Spies HQ guest of honor at yesterday’s marathon madness?!

Oh, and before we forget, been begging them for some pink La Sirena - the only wine that ties with their Moscato to sell out first amongst their entire lineup of big reds, and guess what? Got a smidge of it here in the Store today! So if there’s one last rosé we oblige you to pile up on this year, this is it.

Where were we? Never before seen outside the mailing list, inaugural vintage Aviatrix!

You’ll be among the very few who have this wine, which is cool, yet not really the best reason to buy it. But when you can get it for nearly half the release price? THAT makes it more enticing. Savvy Operatives know we never lead you astray when it comes to Heidi and her wines - La Sirena has always been a massive hit - and this is no different.

What is different? The source. This comes not from Napa, but from Happy Canyon in Santa Barbara. Aviatrix is her latest project in a stable that includes Paradigm, Amuse Bouche, Au Sommet, Fantesca and La Sirena. It’s a mother-daughter collaboration with her two daughters, Remi and Chelsea. Remi has long helped with the sales & marketing side and Chelsea has been making wine for years now, with positions at Lamborn Family, Two Hands, Opus One, and Materra to name drop a few.

This hails from the up-and-coming cool Happy Canyon AVA in the Santa Barbara’s Santa Ynez Valley and we all have to be thankful that it’s not with the at least double Napa charge. Can it be mere coincidence that Jonata, sister winery to Screaming Eagle (originally put on the map by the Barretts) is right next door? We think not! 93% Cabernet, 5% Petite Sirah and 2% Cab Franc. Just 190 cases were made, which in our world is as small as it gets.

The juice? Soaring with a mix of friendly fruit comfortably on display up front in first class - damson plum, mulberry, black cherry, and wild raspberries. Gentle white peppercorn, a wisp of cardamom, a drop of vanilla bean, and a whisper of bittersweet chocolate fall in line behind the fruit. Powdery soft tannins and a lively acidity hold it together nicely. It’s powerful and ripe, but not at all extracted or heavy-handed. Clocking in with a modest 14.1% alcohol it has a terrific balance from front to back.

As the name implies, Aviatrix will soar off to great heights. How do you say no to a fresh project by the Barretts? Their most affordable Cab ever? We can’t. Naturally, you’d be wise to get on board too.