Full Review

Johnson Estate

Johnson Estate
NV Old Oak Gold Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dessert Wine, Lake Erie

Pair this wine with:
Cheese Dessert

Category: Domestic Sherry-Style Wine

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 18% RS: 7%
89 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$18

Johnson Estate
NV Old Oak Gold Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dessert Wine, Lake Erie

Pair this wine with:
Cheese Dessert

Category: Domestic Sherry-Style Wine

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 18% RS: 7%
color. Savory, interesting aromas and flavors of caramel apple, peanut brittle, caraway, and apple salsa with a round, soft, moderately sweet medium-full body and a tingling, delightful, medium-length finish revealing shades of cedar cured green olives, white chocolate cranberry raisins, caramel corm, and rueben with peach jam with dusty tannins and heavy oak flavor. A rich and complex sherry-like wine that would pair well with creme brulee, blue cheese and caramel pastries.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Funky & Savory
Aroma Aroma: caramel apple, peanut brittle, caraway, and apple salsa
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with shades of cedar cured green olives, white chocolate cranberry raisins, caramel corm, and rueben with peach jam
Sweetness Sweetness: Moderately Sweet
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years with food and on its own
Recipes Pairing: Apple Pie a la Mode, Blue Cheese, Roquefort
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A rich and complex sherry-like wine that would pair well with creme brulee, blue cheese and caramel pastries.

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.

Domestic Sherry-Style Wine

Wine Glass Port.jpg
Serve in a Port Wine Glass
Domestic Sherry-style wines are made in the United States and are usually fortified wines aged in similar conditions as Spanish Sherries. Sherry is a fortified wine made in several countries, most famously from the Xerez district if Spain ( the word "sherry" itself is a derivation of the word Xerez). There are several different types ranging from very dry and light (Fino) to very sweet and rich (Cream, Moscatel).

Most are made with the fortification - increasing the alcoholic level - by adding neutral grape sprits after fermentation. This increases the alcohol from 13% or 14% up to 18% to 20%. Sherry is aged in casks for anywhere from two to eight years; the system of aging in casks is the solera system where old and new barrels are used. When wine evaporated from the old barrels, wine from the new barrels is added to top up the old barrels.

While Sherry is most commonly associated with Spain, it has become a generic term and can be produced (often via different methods) in the US and other countries.

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Johnson Estate NV Old Oak Gold Estate Grown Bourbon Barrel Aged Dessert Wine, Lake Erie
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Domestic Sherry-Style Wine