What’s rarer than spotting a New Caledonian owlet-nightjar sighting, not once, but twice? That’s right, the Bird of Night is BACK, this time with a pedigreed Single Vineyard Pinot Noir for a mere $18. Whether or not you grabbed some of their ‘Vivienne’ Chardonnay on the last offer, this Pinot deserves your full attention.

In any given vintage, raw Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir grapes will run you MORE than what this bottle costs. Which explains the original release price of $52. That’s right – 65% off!!!

And consider other Pinots you’ll find on the shelf for under $20. An endless stream of mass-produced, soulless bottles awaits.

Which makes this a rare sight indeed.

Crafted as the tiniest lot by a truly boutique operation. As any small business owner knows, those days often stretch deep into the night. Hence, explains Bird of Night proprietor and winemaker Shane Keck, “I chose the image of a barn owl for my labels because I want the wine to represent who I am.”

And when his wines met our palates at a recent Friday panel, we knew there was more to the story. You see, Shane Keck learned the ropes at wineries that DEFINE greatness in the Russian River Valley and beyond: Cobb, Hirsch, Anthill Farms, and Martinelli. A-ha, we said, it’s obvious these delicious wines are made by someone who knows exactly what it takes to excel.

Employing partial whole cluster for fruit richness and spice, wild native yeasts for complexity, twice-daily punch downs for gentle extraction, and mostly neutral oak to let the fruit shine through, the result is an electric! A Burgundy-inspired masterpiece of tension, minerality, and texture. It’s a masterclass in minimal intervention, and we’ve secured the drop. In the glass, you’ll find a world-class Pinot Noir that builds in a complex crescendo to red cherry, kola, wild herbs and spice like Pavarotti bellowing “Nessun dorma”. The finish builds and builds, lingering on the palate as a fond memory. Masterfully done, indeed.

At $18? This is not a deal, but an outrageous steal. Too bad they make a mere 3-4 barrels of each of their brilliant releases. We naturally snagged all they have of this.

And sell out they do. It’s just a question of time.