James Suckling 91
"Complex nose of herbs, savory notes and redcurrants. Quite a crisp palate, but with plenty of red and black currants. Good depth and healthy tannins are packed into the rather sleek body, together with lively acidity. Drink now."

Wine Enthusiast 91
"Cohesive aromas of black cherry, black plum and tilled earth are lifted by savory accents of dewy herbs and crushed red pepper flakes in this well balanced Cabernet Franc. It shows smooth tannins on the palate that support the juicy berry and plum flavors, with a polish and poise to it all that makes it a delight to drink."

The Wine
Ideally suited to cool climate growing, Cabernet Franc is quickly gaining a reputation as a principal red wine grape in the Finger Lakes where long, brisk autumns allow for slow ripening. The outcome is a consistently ripe presentation with exceptional depth and body. Cabernet Franc is often used as a base for a blend, but the region is proving that the grape stands well on its own as a full-bodied wine.

8 Months in Older French Oak, Fermented in Individual 100 Gallon Lots, No fining or filtering agents.

The Estate
Hermann Wiemer has been a viticulture and winemaking pioneer in New York since he emigrated from Bernkastel, Germany in the 1960s, and the winery today remains a leader in the Finger Lakes for both wine production and vine propagation.

Hermann was born to make wine. His mothers family had over 300 years of winemaking experience in the Mosel, and his father was responsible for restoring vines in that region after World War II. Hermann grew up learning to graft vines by hand with his father before attending prestigious German winemaking and viticultural institutions. When Hermann moved to New York he discovered that the western shore of Seneca Lake was quite similar to the cool climate and gravelly soils of the Mosel. Using his grafting skills, Wiemer planted one of the first successful vinifera vineyards on Seneca Lake in 1976. His dedication and attention to detail allowed the project to thrive, and Hermann J. Wiemer has become known as a premier domestic Riesling producer.

Since 2007, the winery has been run by Hermanns longtime apprentice Fred Merwarth and the agronomist Oskar Bynke. Fred works to further Hermanns vision by precise and thorough vineyard management and winemaking, while Oskar focuses on winery operations.

The wines of Hermann J. Wiemer are stunning, pure Rieslings that speak of Seneca Lake with more than a little reference to the Mosel. The grapes are grown in three distinct estate vineyards that take advantage of the various microclimates and aspects of the western shore of Seneca Lake. The original 1976 vineyard, HJW, is where the winery resides. The Josef and Magdalena vineyards are about 10 miles north and differ greatly in slope, soil, and vine age. From the Dry Riesling which blends the vineyards together to the single vineyard offerings, Hermann J. Wiemer deserves a place amongst the great wines of not only America but also the world.