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Tasting Sequoia Grove

I was delighted to be invited to sit down with a small group for lunch with Michael Trujillo, the head winemaker for Sequoia Grove in Napa Valley, at Tony Mandola's on Waugh Drive in Houston last week. An array of seafood appetizers was brought to the table to taste with the 2010 Sequoia Grove Chardonnay. Michael talked about his goal of creating wines that are not only well balanced but that also showcase the true character of the grapes and where they came from.
I really enjoyed the Chardonnay, it was clean and crisp with aromas of apple and lemon tart. It was dry, with medium body, alcohol and acidity with flavors matching the aromas and a slightly toasty medium+ length. Highly recommended and available at Spec's for approximately $25. It was fantastic with the Oysters Damien, crab balls and fried calamari.
I tasted the 2009 Sequoia Grove Napa Valley Cabernet with the seafood cannelloni from the lunch menu. This was a fruit forward Cabernet with aromas and flavors of ripe dark berries, cocoa and smoke. The soft ripe tannins and good acidity worked well with the tomato tarragon sauce without overpowering the seafood. Recommended. You can find this wine at Spec's and it is also on the menu at the restaurant.
The final wine was the 2008 Sequoia Grove Cambium. This wine is a Bordeaux style blend sourced from some of Napa's best vineyards. Aromas of ripe black cherries and berries, coffee and cedar. Dry, similar flavor to the aromas with additional red fruit flavors and pepper. Full body, medium acidity, medium + alcohol and tannins with a long finish. Recommended.
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