Gravenstein apple skin, salt water taffy, dried lemon peel. Dehydrated pineapple, yellow straw, plantain chips. Wild dandelions and sunflowers, jicama and russet potato. Savory basil doused cashew and soft pretzel establish a yeasty nutty foundation as apricot and poached pear emerge to provide just a sliver of fruit. Soft pumice stone adds textured minerality and grip to sassy savory beauty. This 2015 Vivio Vineyard Roussanne by Sosie Wines is a delicious anomaly.

Native to the Rhone Valley of Southern France, Roussanne is a variety that rarely appears in single varietal bottlings. In its homeland this late ripening grape is typically blended with Marsanne and even in California it is rare to see a 100% Roussanne in most regions. However this bottling, produced by Sosie Wines using fruit from the Vivio Vineyard in Sonoma's Bennett Valley, turns the uncommon into something magnificent. Sitting at just 12.9% ABV with pronounced acidity this wine eschews the oily/waxy texture often characteristic of Rhone whites. It retains a sense of nutty crispness almost reminiscent vintage Champagne while simultaneously projecting tones of dried fruit and salt. Completely captivating and supremely unique, this is one of the most interesting white wines we have tried in quite some time. It's not Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, or even Riesling, but this Roussanne just rocked our socks with its mineral terroir-driven freshness.