Maker: Left Foot Charley, Traverse City, Michigan, USA
Place of origin: Tale Feathers Vineyard, Old Mission Peninsula AVA (western slope), Traverse City, Michigan, USA. For more information on the vineyard, see here.
Vintage: 2011. For more information on the vintage, see image below.
ABV: 12%? (From memory)
Purchased for $19 (Holiday Market)
Appearance: Medium gold.
Nose: Roasted brazil nuts, mineral water, lychee, lavender.
Palate: Medium bodied and medium dry. Nutty brown butter, coconut, oregano.
Finish: White grapefruit fading into herbal tastes.
Parting words: Tale Feathers has partnered with Left Foot Charley for many years now. It’s a small (2 1/2 acre) vineyard in west central part of Old Mission. It’s planted entirely with Pinot Gris. The Wilsons’ focus on that grape has paid off in a big way for them and LFC. Theirs is arguably northern Michigan’s best Gris.
The 2011 vintage was strong for whites in Michigan, though not as strong as 2013. It was still one of the best of the past decade. A lot of its fruit has faded over the past 5+ years, but it remains a beautifully structured wine. I wouldn’t let it go much further than this, though. 2011 Left Foot Charley Tale Feathers Pinot Gris is recommended.
Sipology 