Full Review

Johnson Estate

Johnson Estate
2023 Ice Wine, Vidal Blanc, Lake Erie

Pair this wine with:
Cheese Dessert

Category: Ice Wine

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 12% RS: 21.4%
92 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$49

Johnson Estate
2023 Ice Wine, Vidal Blanc, Lake Erie

Pair this wine with:
Cheese Dessert

Category: Ice Wine

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 12% RS: 21.4%
Golden yellow color. Interesting aromas and flavors of honey butter, schmaltz cookie, roasted peaches, and hint of turkey jerky with an oily, vibrant, moderately sweet medium-full body and a seamless, complex, long finish that presents notes of candied apricot and pineapple-mango shrub with silky tannins. A delightfully thick and rich ice wine with bright balancing acidity and a delicate savory umami note; this will be great with cheeses.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth, New World, Non-Oaky & Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: honey butter, schmaltz cookie, roasted peaches, and hint of turkey jerky
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of candied apricot and pineapple-mango shrub
Sweetness Sweetness: Moderately Sweet
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-6 years on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: New York Cheesecake, Pierre Robert, Mixed Berries
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A delightfully thick and rich ice wine with bright balancing acidity and a delicate savory umami note; this will be great with cheeses.

The Producer

Johnson Estate Winery

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

Their Portfolio

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.
BR Johnson Estate NV Old Oak Ruby Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dessert Wine, Lake Erie 18% (USA) $18.00. - Bronze Medal
89 Johnson Estate NV Old Oak Gold Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dessert Wine, Lake Erie 18% (USA) $18.00.
92 Johnson Estate 2023 Ice Wine, Vidal Blanc, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $49.00.
88 Johnson Estate 2023 Ice Wine, Chambourcin, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $49.00.
87 Johnson Estate 2023 Freelings Creek Reserve Dry, Riesling, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $16.00.
86 Johnson Estate 2023 Freelings Creek Reserve Sweet, Riesling, Lake Erie 11% (USA) $16.00.
95 Johnson Estate 2023 Freelings Creek Reserve Bright Steel, Chardonnay, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $16.00.
BR Johnson Estate 2023 Freelings Creek Reserve, Traminette, Lake Erie 13.5% (USA) $16.00. - Bronze Medal
93 Johnson Estate 2023 Freelings Creek Reserve, Seyval Blanc, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $14.00.
BR Johnson Estate 2020 Freelings Creek Reserve Brut, Lake Erie 12.5% (USA) $24.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Johnson Estate 2022 Freelings Creek Reserve Sparkling, Traminette, Lake Erie 13% (USA) $19.00.
94 Johnson Estate 2022 Freelings Creek Reserve, Chambourcin, Lake Erie 13% (USA) $16.00.
93 Johnson Estate NV Lake Effect Red Blend, Lake Erie 12.5% (USA) $19.00.
BR Johnson Estate 2023 Freelings Creek Reserve Dry Rose, Lake Erie 12% (USA) $16.00. - Bronze Medal
94 Johnson Estate 2023 Freelings Creek Reserve, Marechal Foch, Lake Erie 12.5% (USA) $16.00.

Ice Wine

Wine Glass Dessert.jpg
Serve in a Copita
Ice Wine is a dessert wine that is made from frozen grapes that are harvested very late, anywhere from December to early March. At peak, these frozen grapes have at harvest, a water content in which 80% remains as frozen crystals. Fermentation takes months to complete.

Ice wine is made from white and red grapes, primarily Riesling as well as Vidal, while Cabernet Franc is the leading red variety. Most examples of ice wine are still, but there are also sparkling versions produced.

Canada is a major producer of Ice Wine, most notably in the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. Residual sugar is quite high (about 150 grams per liter, similar to Sauternes from France), but since the acidity is usually high, ice wines do not taste overly sweet.

Ideal consumption time is from eight to ten years; these are best enjoyed on their own or with blue cheeses.

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