The Messana’s historic Bastoni Ranch vineyard thrives in the beautiful Fountaingrove District AVA of Sonoma County. The picturesque ranch is thoughtfully tended by Russ, Martha, and their resolute team. Martha’s grandparents, Pasquale and Maria Bastoni, founded the original vineyards on Riebli Road back in 1905. The source block for this wine is found at the top of the hill of the south ranch, straddling Napa, and Sonoma counties. This magical site with its rocky and gravelly volcanic soils and wonderful microclimate is planted to the famed St. Peter’s Church clone. The hilltop block struggles for water in the rocky ancient volcanic ash, producing limited yields. Bathed in sunlight, the vines achieve maturity with evenly ripened, rich and intense high quality fruit.

The Messana Zinfandel has been a pleasure to shepherd through the cellar. Ethereal cocoa notes wafting up from the fermentation led to focused fruit and minerality that continued to develop through aging. The beauty of the nearly purple, opaque garnet color of this limited release wine always stuns the observer. The nose offers cherry compote, vanilla bean, limestone, and cedar. Silky on the palate, with a slightly leathery polished texture, the wine highlights berry fruits, intriguing subtle minerality and spice, and finishes with lingering bright fruit notes and woody tones. This lovely wine is balanced with elegantly structured tannins and a bright but proportional acidity. The wine is enjoyable now, however, with some patience, it will develop additional complex flavors and textures with added cellar aging.