2021 Sosie Wines Vivio Vineyard Bennett Valley Rosé of Syrah Sonoma Syrah! On the nose, it is savory and herbal, floral in a white pepper-y way, and somewhat saline. On the palate, it is effortless—it has body but feels weightless. You get all the aromatics on the nose in addition to an abundance of pomegranate fruit, white peaches and again some sort of umami-adjacent element I can’t parallel with a foodstuff, so let’s just call it the hearts of Syrah; take that where your imagination will. It finishes with a refreshing wave. Truly a charming wine—it never shocks but enthralls. I’ve been a fan of Sosie for some time, and this first stab at still rosé since 2017 does not disappoint.

~ DELECATABLE

Does this rosé have oak on it? And does that say 100 percent Syrah? Well, the latter is definitely true. But the former? Well, yes! It was fermented in neutral oak, which is very fun and unique to this category of wine. Because this orange-hued rosé is made from Syrah, it has deep wells of fruit for days. The nose is a bit floral with some juicy fruit, think watermelon or raspberries, and an almost undeniable note of vanilla but no oak. There is a density to this wine, but it is broken up by great active acidity. What a ride, this wine. We also enjoy the high-ish alcohol which adds to the depth. This is a rosé for the Chardonnay drinker.

~ VINEPAIR

Close to a bubblegum pink in the glass with some salmon notes glistening through, the nose sings fresh strawberry and melon with a slight mineral note. The palate starts with a vibrant sparkle and some initial tartness followed by a healthy wave of fruit. The dosage seems to be a bit on the high side for me (although I could not locate the information anywhere online), thus it comes off as a tad (but really barely even noticeable) sweet, but I nitpick. This is really a fantastic wine. I am a fan. Excellent. 90 Points.

~ THE DRUNK CYCLIST

Sosie Wines Bare Necessity Brut Rosé of Syrah 2019, Vivino Vineyard, Bennett Valley. 13.2% alc. Champagne method. 115 cases produced. Bright copper-salmon hue animated by a lively stream of tiny glinting bubbles; strawberries and blood orange, touch of fresh-baked bread; hints of lime peel, quince and ginger; quite crisp and energetic; freighted with limestone and chalk minerality from mid-palate back through the incisive finish; opens a strain of pomegranate, lavender, graphite. Always a favorite in our house. Excellent.

~ BIGGER THAN YOUR HEAD

This bubbly has a slightly deeper color than the others and was a major standout in the entire tasting. A welcomed more structured sparkling wine that just begs to be enjoyed with food. Think: grilled shrimp skewers or soft-shell crab tacos.

~ MONARCH WINE

Made from Roussanne which when still is one of my favorite Sosie whites as well. I love the First Things First though because undergoes barrel fermentation and malolactic fermentation, before being aged in oak for 6 months. After some oak, it goes back into bottle for its 2nd fermentation and really develops that true Sosie creaminess that’s so loved in their wines. Lots of stone fruit and citrus on the palate and nose followed by a refreshing finish. This wine is ideal as an aperitif as well as would go nicely with some spring pasta or risotto!

~ SOMM IN THE CITY

I’m tasting — sipping, drinking — the Sosie Wines “A Moment of Weakness” Sparkling Syrah 2018, Bennett Valley, Sonoma County, at this very moment, typing as I taste, in a strictly professional manner of course. Made in the Champagne method, this was disgorged in May 2020, so it is quite young and powerful. The color, as I hint at above, is intense black-purple with a magenta cast; prickly bubbles tickle the nose and palate; think of plums and black cherries and black currants; think of dried sage and thyme; a touch of baking spices; think of a texture like folded velvet riven by brilliant acidity; think unblinkingly dry, a touch austere, with dried orange peel and oolong tea; a finish chiseled from flint and limestone. 13.7 percent alcohol. Now through 2024 or ’25. Winemaker was Scott MacFiggen. Production was 96 cases. This sparkling wine is intensely savory. I’m sipping it with cheese toast made with ham, four cheeses, Dijon mustard and cranberry relish. Delish, all around. Excellent.

~ BIGGER THAN YOUR HEAD

There are a scant 10 barrels of the 2019 Red Blend Rossi Ranch, which is based on 51% Grenache, 34% Mourvèdre, and 15% Syrah that was raised all in neutral oak. It has a juicy, Rhône-like nose of ripe red and blackberry fruits as well as peppery herbs and sandalwood. Nicely textured and medium-bodied, with some grippy tannins, it will give many a Cotes du Rhône a run for its money.

~ JEB DUNNACK

This organic, co-fermented Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre blend captivates with red brambles, nutmeg and tobacco leaf on a wildly expressive nose. Dense and structured, tangy red cherry meets plum and dark chocolate on the tightly woven, brooding palate. Full-bodied yet bright and balanced.

~ DECANTER MAGAZINE

Medium ruby with aromas of blackberries, raspberries and roses. Layered flavors of red and dark fruit, peppery spice and dusty earth are supported by gauzy tannins in a medium body. The finish is moderately long with earthy bramble. 

There is plenty of fruit flavor without being too ripe with support from integrated tannins. Give this wine some time in the glass to unwind itself. The blend is 51% Grenache, 34% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah and the grapes were co-fermented using natural yeast in stainless steel. Aging took place in neutral oak for 15 months. 

~ PULL THAT CORK

51% Grenache, 34% Mouvèdre, 15% Syrah. A GSM blend from a fantastic Sonoma County producer? Yes please! Initially a bit shy in the glass with at best muted fruit and some spice. But after some time open and paired with binge-watching one of our favorite Netflix shows? It began to sing. Rich red, but mostly dark fruit, with even more spice, and an intense floral component. Yowza. The palate holds up its end of the bargain with plenty of fruit, a zingy acidity, floral and herbal notes, and a slightly tannic finish. Yeah. More please! And, OK, Whoa. Outstanding. 94 Points.

~ THE DRUNK CYCLIST

From Atlas Peak’s iconic Stagecoach Vineyard, Sosie crafts a Franc that’s juicy and generous at its core, yet completely elegant. On the nose, graphite opens with warm spices (star anise, coriander, cloves), hints of smoke box, mint and pine layered under black cherry edged with bright strawberry. The palate flows with silky textures and more black cherry and raspberry laced with hints of savory herbs.

~ ROBB REPORT

Sosie’s husband-and-wife owners Scott MacFiggen and Regina Bustamante say they prefer ‘restraint over ripeness, precision over power, finesse over flamboyance’. Be that as it may, their Cabernet Franc from the volcanic Stagecoach Vineyard on Atlas Peak is a whirlwind of intense, complex flavour. Blueberry, cranberry, cardamom, bay and pipe tobacco come hurtling out of the glass. The tannins are beautifully fine. And the 15% alcohol doesn't show. What does show is its massive richness. 96 points.

~ DECANTER

Color: Very dense, very dark garnet, 

Aroma: Root beer, Cherry cola, Dr. Pepper, the nose is lively and complex, mint when it is first uncorked, which recedes but is still present, eucalyptus, a bit of green bell pepper, green bean, 

Palate: Smooth mellow and at the same time tannic, beautiful minerality, On the palate this wine is very complex, there is a smokiness which adds a layer of complexity of the wine, an element that expresses the time and the place. (Just a hint) oxygen is interactive, it is subtle and recognized and appreciated not to be disdained. 

Pairing: This is a fantastic wine that is open to so many foods. It loved the ribs with the plum sauce. The pasta salad also works with the wine. The bold vinegar and pesto flavors are enhanced by the wine. The wine loves the herbs in the pesto and the creaminess of the fresh mozzarella. This wine also loves the hickory smoke that is in the grilled beef. Also a great companion with our pasta salad. It is tames the salty richness of the kalamata olives and the fresh mozzarella cheese. 

~ WINE PREDATOR

Sosie Wines showcases the complexity of this fruit in its Sosie Charles Smith Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($75). Textured, with firm tannins bringing density to the bold wine, while revealing balance thanks to the prevalent acidity. Red and black fruit melds with graphite and leather, with notes of dark chocolate and espresso. Only 10 barrels of this special wine were made in 2019, the current release. Pair with grilled ribeyes, fajitas, Wagyu beef burgers, or roasted portobello mushrooms with charred broccoli and chimichurri.

~ RED WINE WITH BREAKFAST

Sosie is emerging as a reliable maker of individualistic quality wines in Sonoma. A key factor in their identity is the use of carefully selected vineyards. The Charlie Smith Vineyard is situated at 1,600 feet elevation in the Mayacamas Mountains and farmed organically. The terroir means that the grapes are small, thick-skinned, and intensely flavored.
Appearance: Opaque ruby core, receding to translucent ruby at rim;
Nose: Smoky, Hints of rose petals. Deep raspberry aromas emanate from the heart of the wine.Pencil lead. Black pepper.
Palate: Raspberry fruit leaps out. Chewy tannins. Medium-plus acid. Very pleasant to quaff but also virant enough to serve with almost any red meat. Look to drink now or in the next five years.

~ CHALK REPORT

Big, bodacious, brawny, and beautifully made. A-

~ ONE WINE DUDE

A burst of licorice, lavender, tar and loam; fleshy and ripe black currants and blueberries, imbued with wood smoke and walnut shell; succulent velvety tannins permeated by dusty graphite; lip-smacking acidity flowing through deep foundations of wood that only surface toward the finish; a few moments in the glass unfold notes of crushed cumin and ancho chili, cedar, iodine and mint. Now through 2030 to ’34. Excellent.

~ BIGGER THAN YOUR HEAD

This Sonoma Coast bottling is a dazzling example of the Sonoma Coast style — rich in body, boldly cherried, and layered with nuance that runs to dark chocolate, hazelnut, and a hint of pepper. Seductive but never overblown, it drinks beautifully on its own but is enhanced by a proper food pairing — which, come to think of it, would be tough to go wrong no matter which way you decided to go. A

~ THE DRINK HACKER

Silver Medal
~ SF CHRONICLE WINE COMPETITION

When stone fruits get all sultry and seductive and stuff like that. A-
~ 1 WINE DUDE

90 Points. Bold yellow color. Aromas pop with super tropical combos of pineapple, lychee, honey butter, almond, tropical flowers. Medium-bodied (only 12.9% alcohol) with moderating acidity, which really helps, and there’s a creamy, waxy texture. Flavors of yellow apples and pineapple, laced with floral potpourri, salted nuts, white tea, there’s some underlying mineral tones. Bold and tropical in flavors yet it’s nuanced and light on its feel – a nice combo to find in California Roussanne. Native yeasts, barrel fermented, all maloactic fermentation.
~ TERROIRIST

Excellent
~ BIGGER THAN YOUR HEAD

Score: 8.5-9 Pale gold in color, this wine smells of quince and pears poached in cream. In the mouth, silky flavors of unripe pear and golden apple mix with a hint of yellow flowers. There's a nice underlying wet chalkboard minerality, though the acidity is delicate and softer than I would like. Finishes clean with hints of chamomile. 12.9% alcohol. 100 cases produced.
~ VINOGRAPHY

Silver Medal
~ SF CHRONICLE WINE COMPETITION

90 points. Bright cherry colored. Nose shows fresh red cherries and pomegranate with lots of spiced tea, bay leaf, pepper, paprika, rose petals – this has a really spicy, savory nose that I love. Medium-bodied and really fresh with dusty tannins and bright acidity on a frame of about 13% alcohol. Red cherries, raspberries and pomegranate fruit blend well with notes of spiced tea, pepper, bay leaf, subtle coffee and cedar notes. Complex and could develop in the cellar but it’s already harmonious. Aged 16 months in 25% new French oak.
~ TERROIRIST

Exceptional
~ BIGGER THAN YOUR HEAD

Silver Medal
~ SF CHRONICLE WINE COMPETITION

90 points. This wine is from a single site, planted in volcanic soils at 750-feet in elevation. Aged in neutral oak, it is floral and earthy, with a rocky mineral edge joined by apricot and ginger flavors within the silky texture.
~ WINE ENTHUSIAST

Broad shouldered and substantial on the palate, this small production is fruity in style, a mix of ripe cherry and strawberry, with a richness of vanilla. The acidity is balanced and lively. VIRGINIE BOONE

"...This 2016 Roberts Road Vineyard Pinot Noir by Sosie Wines is a wonderfully balanced and thoroughly impressive red from the Sonoma Coast."
~WINERY REFLECTIONS