The Rutherford Vineyard of Rob and Cyd Greer is a marvel to behold.  One feels an intense connection to the great wines of the early 20th century that were made here in Rutherford; the wines of Beaulieu or Inglenook that first made Napa known throughout the world.  Perfect alluvial soils of fractured sandstone, deep and well-drained with a high gravel content in loose Bale Loam.  The property touches the illustrious Staglin Vineyards on one side and those of legendary grower Gary Marisoli on the other side.

In 2001, when I first made wine from Greer for St. Clement, the vines were nobly aged but struggling with their non-phylloxera-resistant rootstock.  We harvested the fruit in late October of 2001 and although it came it at quite a low sugar level it had a balance and intensity that was undeniable.

Rob and I share a passion for English Premier League Football (Rob’s team is The Arsenal), and we have spent many, often ridiculously early, mornings watching soccer matches on his television.  When you’ve bothered to get up that early, you’d think that talking during play would be frowned upon, but Rob took every opportunity to discuss his replant.  Turns out Rob was also doing this with every winemaker and vineyard manager that he came into contact with including Tony Soter, Celia Masyczek, Andy Beckstoffer and David Abreu (the produce aisle at our local market is his principal hunting ground!). By putting everyone’s ideas together, Rob came up with his ideal scenario.  The new vineyard is planted in line with the sun (at 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon) to 101-14 rootstock with two clones of Cabernet Sauvignon: clone 4 and the See clone (or clone 30).