Full Review

Johnson Estate

Johnson Estate
2021 Freelings Creek Reserve Bright Steel, Chardonnay, Lake Erie

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 12% RS: .05%
88 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$15
Best Buy

Johnson Estate
2021 Freelings Creek Reserve Bright Steel, Chardonnay, Lake Erie

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 12% RS: .05%
Straw color. Aromas of tart pear, white flowers, salted caramel, and jasmine with a medium-to-full body and a medium-to-long lemon cream, lime zest, green apple, and tangelo finish. Crowd pleasing fruit character for a cooler Chardonnay with cooler climate acidity.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Crisp & Lively
Aroma Aroma: tart pear, white flowers, salted caramel, and jasmine
Taste Flavor: lemon cream, lime zest, green apple, and tangelo
Sweetness Sweetness: Dryish
Enjoy Enjoy: Now Enjoy on its own
Recipes Pairing: Turkey, Roasted Chicken, Boiled Lobster
Bottom Line Bottom Line: Crowd pleasing fruit character for a cooler Chardonnay with cooler climate acidity.

The Producer

Johnson Estate Winery

The Producer
8419 W Rte 20
Westfield, NY 14787
USA
1 716-326-2191

Their Portfolio

BR Johnson Estate NV Solstice Sangria, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $12.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Johnson Estate NV Red Ipocras, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $9.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Johnson Estate NV White Ipocras, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $9.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Johnson Estate 2019 Freelings Creek Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, American 13% (USA) $18.00.
BR Johnson Estate 2020 Feelings Creek Reserve Toasted Oak, Chardonnay, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $14.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Johnson Estate 2020 Feelings Creek Reserve Bright Steel, Chardonnay, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $14.00.
88 Johnson Estate 2019 Feelings Creek Reserve Brut, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $24.00.
88 Johnson Estate 2020 Feelings Creek Reserve Dry, Riesling, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $14.00.
87 Johnson Estate 2020 Feelings Creek Reserve Semi-Dry, Riesling, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $14.00.
85 Johnson Estate 2020 Feelings Creek Reserve Sweet, Riesling, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $14.00.
87 Johnson Estate 2020 Feelings Creek Reserve, Seyval Blanc, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $11.00.
86 Johnson Estate 2020 Feelings Creek Reserve, Vidal Blanc, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $11.00.
85 Johnson Estate 2021 Feelings Creek Reserve Dry Rosé, Pinot Noir, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $14.00.
85 Johnson Estate 2019 Feelings Creek Reserve Founders’ Red, Lake Erie 13% (USA) $15.00.
BR Johnson Estate 2018 Feelings Creek Reserve, Pinot Noir, Lake Erie 12.5% (USA) $17.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Johnson Estate 2020 Feelings Creek Reserve, Marechal Foch, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $14.00.
94 Johnson Estate 2020 Feelings Creek Reserve, Chambourcin, Lake Erie 13% (USA) $14.00.
89 Johnson Estate NV The Queen’s Catawba Bubbly Wine, Catawba, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $12.00.
88 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve Bright Steel, Chardonnay, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $15.00.
88 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve Bright Steel, Chardonnay, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $15.00.
88 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve Toasted Oak, Chardonnay, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $15.00.
88 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve Toasted Oak, Chardonnay, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $15.00.
86 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve Dry, Riesling, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $15.00.
86 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve Dry, Riesling, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $15.00.
85 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve Sweet, Riesling, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $15.00.
85 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve Sweet, Riesling, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $15.00.
87 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve, Seyval Blanc, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $13.00.
87 Johnson Estate 2022 Freelings Creek Reserve, Seyval Blanc, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $13.00.
87 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve, Vidal Blanc, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $13.00.
87 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve, Vidal Blanc, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $13.00.
92 Johnson Estate NV Old Oak Ruby Estate Grown Bourbon Barrel Aged Dessert Wine, Lake Erie 18% (USA) $18.00.
85 Johnson Estate NV Old Oak Gold Estate Grown Bourbon Barrel Aged Dessert Wine, Lake Erie 18% (USA) $18.00.
89 Johnson Estate 2021 Estate Grown Semi Dry, Riesling, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $15.00.
87 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve , Marechal Foch, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $16.00.
87 Johnson Estate 2020 Freelings Creek Reserve Founders’ Red Blend, Lake Erie 13% (USA) $16.00.
86 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve, Vidal Blanc, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $13.00.
89 Johnson Estate 2022 Freelings Creek Reserve, Traminette, Lake Erie 13.5% (USA) $15.00.
89 Johnson Estate 2021 Freelings Creek Reserve Sparkling, Traminette, Lake Erie 13% (USA) $19.00.
85 Johnson Estate 2022 Freelings Creek Reserve Dry, Riesling, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $16.00.
86 Johnson Estate 2022 Freelings Creek Reserve Sweet, Riesling, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $16.00.
88 Johnson Estate 2022 Freelings Creek Reserve, Vidal Blanc, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $14.00.
87 Johnson Estate 2023 Hand Picked, Seyval Blanc, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $15.00.
87 Johnson Estate 2022 Freelings Creek Reserve Bright Steel, Chardonnay, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $16.00.
89 Johnson Estate 2022 Freelings Creek Reserve Toasted Oak, Chardonnay, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $16.00.
93 Johnson Estate 2022 Freelings Creek Reserve, Marechal Foch, Lake Erie 12.5% (USA) $16.00.
89 Johnson Estate NV Estate Grown Lake Effect Red Blend, Lake Erie 12.5% (USA) $19.00.
91 Johnson Estate NV Estate Grown Lake Effect White Blend, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $19.00.
90 Johnson Estate NV Estate Grown Brut Rosé, Pinot Noir, Lake Erie 12.5% (USA) $29.00.
90 Johnson Estate 2022 Freelings Creek Reserve, Pinot Noir, Lake Erie 13% (USA) $19.00.
88 Johnson Estate 2022 Freelings Creek Reserve Semi-Dry, Riesling, Lake Erie 10.5% (USA) $16.00.

Chardonnay

Wine Glass White.jpg
Serve in a White Wine Glass
Chardonnay is arguably the world’s most famous white variety, thanks to its success in France’s Burgundy region as well as throughout much of California. Chardonnay on its own has rather straightforward, pleasant aromas of apple and pear, but when aged (and sometimes fermented) in small oak barrels, the wines take on extra richness as well as notes of toasted almond, vanilla and yeast.

The most renowned examples of Chardonnay are from small villages and vineyards in Burgundy, such as Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. These wines are very powerful with ample spicy notes and very good acidity; they age very well, sometimes as long as 20-25 years. Another part of Burgundy, Chablis, is home to more restrained style of Chardonnay. Certain areas of California, especially Russian River Valley in Sonoma and Santa Barbara County are also home to many distinguished examples of Chardonnay, with those from the latter region often displaying tropical fruit flavors.

Given that most Chardonnnays are aged in small oak barrels, there has been a movement as of late to give consumers a mored delicate style of Chardonnay, without all the spicy and toasty flavors. Thus there are now many producers that produce non-oak aged Chardonnays; this has been seen from many producers from Australia as well as a few in California as well.

Chardonnay, especially oak-aged versions, are quite rich and need seafood of equal richness at the dinner table. Thus lobster, halibut and swordfish are ideal food pairings.