“I’m not a ratings guy, so I don’t do numbers, but I will say this
about these two beauties; every sip is a pleasure.”

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I’ve followed Left Foot Charley Winery since the very beginning. I enjoy pretty much everything owner-winemaker Bryan Ulbrich and company makes, and I even had the great pleasure of performing my music on both the LFC patio and in the tasting room on a number occasions, before the pandemic and arthritis slowed me down. I love these people, not only for the wines and ciders they make, but for everything they do for the Traverse City community.

During another swing through the cellar last week, I found these two oldest of LFC’s offerings still down there. Since the 2011 Left Foot Charley Cadia I reviewed in February was so good, I had to pull some more corks and find out what these had to offer, starting with some Pinot Blanc.

I was sorry to hear of the passing of Island View Vineyard owner Werner Kuehnis. I only met Werner a few times, but he was a beloved fixture at the facility, and the original “silent partner” at LFC. His vineyard on Old Mission Peninsula has consistently produced exceptional fruit for the best Michigan Pinot Blancs I’ve had to date. After the brutal winter of 2013-14, yields were so low that LFC had to tap additional vineyard sources in order to make and bottle the 2014 and 2015 vintages.

2015 Left Foot Charley Old Mission Peninsula Pinot Blanc Island View Corner, 12% alc.: What a nice 8-year old white wine! A clean, medium straw in color, it’s still as fresh as if it were made last year. It delivers everything I want and expect from an LFC Pinot Blanc; good intensity to the green apple citrus character, and excellent balance between the fruit and acids, all on a medium bodied frame. There’s some subtle minerality underneath the dominant flavors that adds to the appeal, and the finish lingers awhile.

Considering the tough vintage, this is an impressive achievement from winemaker Ulbrich. It’ll pair nicely with many things fishy and fowl, but I’m enjoying a glass right now with some whole wheat crackers and Boursin cheese infused with chive and shallot. I wish this weren’t our last bottle, but at least it’s at optimum drinking right now. If I had more, I’d drink up in the next year or so. I probably paid around $18 a bottle for this on futures, and it was worth every penny. The fruit was sourced from Island View Vineyard, Prairie School Vineyard and Seventh Hill Farm. Find this wine

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Speaking of Seventh Hill Farm, it has also been producing great Riesling all along for LFC. I reviewed the 2012 for Gang of Pour back in 2015, so it was especially interesting to note how it has developed since then. 

2012 Left Foot Charley Old Mission Peninsula Riesling Seventh Hill Farm, 17.7 g/l R.S., 11.4% alc., $23.00: I love mature Riesling, and this 11-year old delight is really coming into that drinking window. Still a clean light-to-medium straw in color, it offers a pleasant bouquet that more-than-hints at the lovely red apple, honey, petrol, mineral, beeswax and rainwater flavors that follow. Medium-bodied, with beautifully balanced acidity and good length on the finish, this is almost delicate, but by no means shy. Off-dry, it has just enough sweetness to add another element to the wine’s delicious character. I love Bryan’s Rieslings, and it would be a treat to try this again in another five years, but sadly, it was another last bottle. Find this wine

I’m not a ratings guy, so I don’t do numbers, but I will say this about these two beauties; every sip is a pleasure. They were good right out of the gate, and they got even better with some age. 

Reporting from Day-twah,
Bastardo

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