More About Gamba 2019 'Messana Vineyard' Zinfandel Embodying the life and individuality of ancient vines planted to a small hilltop block of the historic Bastoni Ranch Vineyard founded in 1905, Gus Gamba's Messana Vineyard Zinfandel is the direct result of the thoughtfully tended to vines by owners Russ and Martha Messana. Gus acts as the human conduit for the vines to tell their story, and this 2019 release is what he strives for; Vibrantly detailed, engrossingly complex, and invigoratingly fresh. Manifesting the same passion for agriculture and tradition that's continuously flowed through their family's veins for six generations, beginning first in Northern Italy, Gamba Family expresses it all through the lens of ancient Zinfandel Vines. Gus and his winemaking team double hand-sort the berries, with only the best making their way into fermentors. Next, the 2019 release spent an impressive 18 months aging primarily in American oak barrels, contributing to the depth of flavors and spice characteristics. "The 2019 offering of the Messana Zinfandel shows off a brilliant dark garnet hue. With a swirl, notes of dark plum, brown spices, and vanilla emerge in the nose. The wine fans out on the palate with its round and polished texture, bursting in the mouth with an array of stone fruits and berries that fill the senses, finishing with leather and subtle woody tones. The wine is medium to full in body, balanced with a proportionate acidity, lifting the wine and highlighting the youthful freshness of the fruit. Enjoy now in its lovely fruit-driven youth, however, patience will be rewarded as the wine develops with cellar aging over the next 5-7 years..."