The WineryE16 Wine Company takes its name from 3rd generation winegrower Robert Jones' original vineyard located off Highway E16 in El Dorado. Twenty years ago, Robert took a path less traveled and developed a mountain vineyard in the rugged wine country that would become the (now hot!) Fairplay appellation.
Today, Robert forges E16 Wines with one purpose - to highlight the terroir of each vineyard.
Despite their state-of-the-art facilities, E16's production philosophy is built on their Old World aesthetic.
"Baby Rattlesnake Vineyard" earned its unusual name after Robert Jones’ three-year-old son picked up a juvenile Northern Pacific rattler in the company of his parents. Before they could intervene, he had already returned it to earth without harm to either party.
The Wine
Yes, most of us think of Grenache as the red grape that forms the foundation of collectible red wines and Roses from the South of France. But there is a genetic variation of this red grape that is white, and was creatively named "Grenache Blanc". This wine is 100% Grenache Blanc, or "GB" in my wine shorthand.
Mountain-grown, from a vineyard facing southeast at a height of 2,300 feet elevation, where the cool evenings and clear skies produce grapes that make a bright and crisp wine filled with enticing aromas of exotic, tropical fruits, tangerine zest and citrus flowers. Crisp yet rounded, it is bright and layered with stone fruit and pear and lychee in the very long finish.
A food-friendly, light-bodied wine weighing in at 12.5% Alcohol. Drink now through 2022. 120 cases produced.
Food Pairings
This mouth-watering dry wine is delicious on its own but shows its best stuff at the table. Bridge ingredients include savory Pineapple (baked or cooked), Asian spices, caramelized sugars, citrus and sauces featuring apple or pear.
