A beautiful day at Aver Family Vineyards.
Kara and I go to a lot of local wine strolls and tasting events…
A LOT!
Over the last couple of years we’ve become very familiar with Aver Family Vineyards. A local, family run vineyard, Aver showcases their wine at many of these events. Not only is their wine always delicious, but you will often find John Aver (the owner) pouring and talking about his wine. For the longest time, the only way you could taste their wine was at a local event or if you joined their mailing list…
But now…
They have a tasting room!
Their tasting room and vineyard is located just off of Watsonville Road in Gilroy, close to other Santa Clara Valley favorites like Jason-Stephens, Sycamore Creek, and Clos La Chance. It is only open on the third weekend of every month, so plan accordingly.
So a few Saturdays back, Kara and I were trying to figure out what we wanted to do…
I was all like, “Is this the third Saturday of September?”
She was all like, “Yeah!”
So I was all like, “Let’s go to Aver Family Vineyards!” I grabbed her by the arm and rushed her out the door.
She was like, “Here we go again…”
Upon our arrival, we were greeted on the patio by one of the servers. She poured us a glass of their 2007 Family Album Cabernet Sauvignon, and suggested we take a seat outside and enjoy the nice weather while she served us.
Here’s how it all went down…
Aver Family Vineyards 2007 Family Album Cabernet Sauvignon ($25)
Color: Ruby red.
Nose: Chalky (I love chalk) blueberry and red fruit.
Taste: Plum and cassis. It’s ripe with chalky tannins.
Score: This is a tasty wine that is meant to drink young. Give it an 89, and give it a try.
Aver Family Vineyards 2008 Homage Syrah ($35)
Color: Dark ruby-red.
Nose: Tires layered with cranberry and raspberry.
Taste: Tires and sour cherry. It’s rich and jammy, but there is a slightly sharp and astringent characteristic.
Score: 89-
Aver Family Vineyards 2008 Hope Rhone Style Blend ($35)
The Hope is a blend of 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 21% Petite Sirah, and 9% Mourvedre.
Color: Dark ruby-red.
Nose: A tight nose of chalk and tires.
Taste: Bright red fruit with a lively acidity. Tasty bike tires and black olives on the finish.
Score: This is a dope Rhone. 89+ foo!
Aver Family Vineyards 2007 Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon ($35)
The Heritage is a Bordeaux style red with 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 3% Malbec.
Color: Dark ruby to purple.
Nose: Big black and blue fruit. Chalky. Nice!
Taste: Big plum fruit with leather and tobacco leaf.
Score: A very strong 90 points.
Aver Family Vineyards 2007 Blessings Petite Sirah ($45)
As we were served the Blessings, our server said to us, “This stuff is gonna be the Aver Family Cult Wine!”
Color: DARK Ruby Red… DARK!
Nose: Inky blueberry and chalk. Dope!
Taste: If this wine were a country music band, it would be called Big and Rich, because it is big and rich. The tannins are round and rad. There’s a bunch of ripe, lingering blue and blackberry fruit on the palate. It’s F-ing D-Lish!
Score: A BIG 92 for a BIG wine.
I’ve gotta say that I was hella stoked on my visit to Aver Family Vineyards.
You will be too!
Go mark your calendar for the third weekend of next month, and check ’em out.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Stay Rad 