Wine Industry Newsletter

A review of Pinot Noir clones

There are believed to be over 20 different clones of Pinot Noir held in public and private collections in WA. This article attempts to note the origin and key production attributes of 14 of these clones widely available in WA.

The information collected is from a wide variety of literature; from peer reviewed papers and industry publications to presentations and anecdotal comments. There are no published clonal evaluations conducted in WA so attributes noted cannot be guaranteed to be expressed under WA growing conditions but does serve to provide producers with a greater understanding of the diversity of clones available.

Abbreviations:

UCD – University of California, Davis

FPS – Foundation Plant Services (UCD)

FSAC – Fragmented shoot apex culture

ENTAV – Etablissement National Technique pour l’Amélioration de la Viticulture

TA – Titratable acidity (g/L)

Clones

Clone: 114 A  

Origin: Dijon, Côte-d'Or, France  

Year selected: INRA selection certified in 1971

Imported to WA in 1994

Accession No: IW946116

Vine performance:

• Pinot fin type^6,17(see Appendix for further explanation), quite droopy²⁵
• Early maturing^19,24,28, medium to low yield^{3,6,20,25,18,12} but can be irregular¹², medium to low bunch weight^11,18,12
• Contradicting information regarding berry size ranging from small^10,11,25, medium¹⁸ and large²⁹
• Tighter bunches compared to 667 and 777^12,29     
• Long internode length¹⁰ 

Wine attributes:

• Medium to high sugar levels^6,18,12, high pH and medium to low TA^3,6,18, high colour¹⁰
• Complex high quality balanced wine with good aroma and high intensity, fine tannin structure^{10,12,15,17,18,20,25}
• Good multi-clonal blending potential¹⁸

Comment:

The conjecture of berry size for 114A and some of the following clones is likely due to the evolution of terminology from the 1960’s to 1980’s and observations made on a limited range of clones. Generally speaking, new clones have been selected for smaller berries, greater disease resistance and high skin to pulp ratio²⁹.

Brian Croser commented that 114, 115 and 777 all have small berries growing in Tapanappa Wines, Adelaide Hills, SA. 114 has bigger bunches and berries than 115 and 777¹¹.

Clone: 115

Origin: Dijon, Côte-d'Or, France  

Year selected: INRA selection certified in 1971

Imported to CSIRO in 1988 then to WA in 1993

Accession No: IW938419 

Vine performance

• Classified as Pinot fin type^17,25, slightly droopy²⁵
• Early maturing^15,20,25, advanced bud-break¹, low to medium yields^{3,6,12,18,20,25,29}
• Shown to have higher yields than MV6 in Tasmania¹¹
• Contradicting information regarding berry size ranging from small^10,11,25 to medium¹⁸
• Small bunches^10,11 with low to medium bunch weight ^10,18 and can have millerandage (hen and chicken)²⁹
• Tighter bunches compared to 667 and 777^12,29
• Low disease incidence¹      

Wine attributes:

• Medium to high sugar levels^6,12,18,21 with high pH³ and low to medium TA^3,18
• High wine quality^20,25 with medium^15,18 to high colour¹⁰
• Wines are aromatic¹² and complex (more so than the UCD clones¹⁵), flavours in the dark fruit spectrum¹⁵ moving to savoury in warmer years⁷

Clone: D5V12A (upright/straight canes)

Origin: UCD

Year selected: Unknown (group of FPS Pinot Noir selections that have been known as Gamay Beaujolais type includes FPS 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22. The records show that all five were derived from the same UCD single vine source (I60 V15)).

Imported from UCD as Gamay Beaujolais but it is not the variety Gamay from Beaujolais¹⁷

In 1992, FPS 20 was dropped off the registered list because many of the FPS 20 registered mother vines tested positive for leafroll virus¹⁶.

Imported to Victoria in 1962, widely planted in the 1990’s⁴, brought into WA in 1965.

Accession No: IW652051

Vine performance:

• Pinot droit type^17,25, upright growth habit^4,17,23,25
• Late season^17,25
• High yielding^17,25, limit yield for best quality²⁵
• High berry weight, high berry number per bunch² and high bunch weight^17,24,  

Wine attributes:

• Low sugar levels²³, medium to high pH, low TA and high anthocyanin content⁴
• Produces lighter style wines than Pinot fin clones¹⁷, berry fruit characters¹⁵, can be thin and lacking richness²³

Comment:

Viticulturists love it, winemakers don't¹⁵      

Clone: G8V3 HT105

Origin: UCD

Year selected: Originally from Martini vineyard, Napa Valley sometime before 1966, heat treated for 105 days¹⁶. FPS 13, 15, and 66 originated from the same source¹⁶.

Imported into Victoria in 1971, heat treated material was imported into WA in 1989.

Accession No: IW892323

Vine performance:

• Pinot droit type ²⁵,
• Contradicting information on growth habit being prostrate²² and upright^25,27
• Late season²⁵
• Vigorous clone^22,27 with high pruning weights¹⁴ but not as vigorous or high yielding as G5V15¹⁵
• Small berries²²
• Small, winged-shouldered bunches²²

Wine attributes:

• Medium sugar levels, high pH, low TA, medium anthocyanins²²
• Low overall aroma intensity and complexity²² wines display fruity and jammy characters¹⁵
• While wine quality can be variable, good wines have been produced from this clone²⁷.

Comment:

Widely planted in California^17,25

Clone: Mariafeld

Origin: Wädenswil (Switzerland)

Year selected: imported from Wädenswil to UCD in 1966. Imported to NSW in 1969 and heat-treated, brought into WA in 1981.

Accession No: IW810014

Vine performance:

• Moderately upright growth habit²²
• Later maturing¹⁷
• Contradicting information regarding yield ranging from low^3,6, moderate¹⁹ and high^{2,13,17,23,25}
• Contradicting information regarding bunch weight ranging from low^3,6 to high^2,23
• High berry weight^2,17,23
• Cylindrical bunch shape²²
• Low pruning weight³  
• Good disease tolerance imparted by loose bunches^2,3,17,19,25

Wine attributes:

• Low pH with high TA^8,23,25 
• High anthocyanin^3,15,19
• Good wine quality^8,19 with good tannin^15,19 and berry aromas¹⁹

Comment:

Contradicting comments for yield and bunch weight. Low yield and low bunch weight are noted in trials in Oregon^3,6. On the contrary; high yield and high bunch weight are commented from research and nursery catalogues in Australia and a German trial.  Medium yield comment sourced from a trial in New York State.

The performance of this clone appears to be sensitive to the region and site in which it is grown.  

Clone: 386

Origin: Champagne, Marne, France

Year selected: Certified in 1975 as ENTAV selection.

Imported directly into WA in 1986

Accession No: IW866060

Vine performance:

• Drooping habit²⁵      
• Contradicting information regarding yield ranging from low⁵, medium to high¹⁸
• Medium to large berry size and bunch weight¹⁸    
• Shows consistency within different environments⁵

Wine attributes:

• Typically for sparkling^18,25, also produces good table wine²⁵    
• Low to medium sugar levels, medium to high TA¹⁸
• Medium colour potential and tannic structure¹⁸

• Described as average, not exciting¹⁵

Clone: 521

Origin: Champagne, Marne, France

Year selected: Certified in 1976 as ENTAV selection.

Imported directly into WA in 1986

Accession No: IW866061

Vine performance:

• Drooping habit²⁵
• Medium to high yield ^18,25
• Medium to high bunch weight¹⁸

Wine attributes:

• Medium sugar levels¹⁸ typically suitable for sparkling^17,18 but also producing good table wine²⁵    
• Described as average, not exciting¹⁵

Clone: 667

Origin: Côte-d'Or, France

Year selected: ENTAV certified in 1980.

Imported into WA in 2008, privately held at ARM nursery.

Vine performance:

• Early season^12,25, moderately droopy²⁵.
• Low to medium yield^12,18,25 and medium berry size¹⁸,
• Low to medium bunch weight^12,18, similar to clone 777¹²
• 667 is more productive on own roots²⁹
• Vines have good agronomic characteristics¹⁸

Wine attributes:

• Good sugar levels^12,18,25, with medium TA¹⁸
• Medium to high anthocyanin^15,18
• Fine and aromatic wines suitable for aging^15,18, good tannin structure¹⁸
• Wines can be rich, with dark fruit and spice characters¹²

Clone: 777

Origin: Dijon, Côte-d'Or, France  

Year selected: ENTAV certified in 1981.

Imported into CSIRO in 1989, then brought into WA in 1999.

Accession No: IW998551

Vine performance:

• Pinot fin type²⁵
• Early season²⁵ and advanced flowering¹
• Low yield^17,18,25
•  Small to medium berry size and low bunch weight^1,11,18    

Wine attributes:

• High sugar accumulation¹⁸ and low to medium TA¹⁸
• Good tannin structure and aroma^15,18 with medium to high colour potential^15,18

Clone: D2V6 and G5V15

D2V6 and G5V15 are believed to have originated from FPS clone 2A¹⁷. G5V15 is noted as having GYS (grapevine yellow speckle virus) and D2V6 was a latter selection free from GYS²⁴.

Origin:   Wädenswil, Switzerland

Year selected: Clone B110/16 was imported from Wädenswil to UCD in 1952, became registered in 1962 as FPS 2A and heat treated for 117 days in the late 1960’s or early 1970’s, which labelled Pinot Noir FPS 30. Pinot noir FPS 30 was never registered in the UCD registration and certification program²⁶.

G5V15: Imported into Australia by CSIRO in 1968, then brought into WA in 1972

D2V6: Imported into Australia and put through FSAC by DPI Victoria¹⁷ in 1971, then into WA in 1989.

Accession No: G5V15: IW728048, D2V6: IW892222

Vine performance:

• Contradicting information on categorising growth habit from Pinot fin group^{3, 22} to Pinot droit group²⁵
• Late maturing ²⁵
• High yield ^6,22,25, prone to over cropping.¹⁵
• High berry weight ^6,22,25
• Small to medium sized bunches described as winged, tight and cylindrical²²

Wine attributes:

• High sugar accumulation⁶ with low pHand high TA²⁴ 
• Wine style can range from light²⁵ to medium weight²²
• Good aromatic intensity^22,25 and flavours in both fruit and savoury spectrums¹⁵

Comment:

May require low cropping levels to achieve best wines.

Clone: 18Gm

Origin: Geisenheim, Germany

Imported into NSW in 1969 then brought into WA in 1989.

Accession No: IW890013

Vine performance:

• High yielding²⁵ due to high bunch numbers and relatively high bunch weight²³
• Low berry weight⁸
• Loose bunches^17,25

Wine attributes:

• Low sugar accumulation, medium pH, medium to high TA⁸        
• High concentration of malic acid⁸
• High anthocyanin content^8,9
• Medium body, savoury flavours, solid and dependable¹⁵

Clone: MV6 (also known as Busby 1832¹⁵)

Origin: Australia, released by CSIRO in 1971.

The selection was made at Griffith Viticultural Research Station²⁷  from cuttings sourced from old vines at  Mt. Pleasant Vineyards in the Hunter Valley^4,17,23.

Brought into WA in 1999.

Accession No: IW992340

Vine performance:

• Drooping habit^15,17,25
• Early²⁴ to mid season^17,25
• Low yielding ^{11,13,17,23,25}
• Contradicting information regarding berry weight ranging from small^11,15,17 to high⁸
• Lower bunch weight^12,15,17 due to fewer berries per bunch^23,24
• Heavy pruning weight⁴
• Compact bunches with winged shoulders^11,12
• Tough skins¹²

Wine attributes:

• High sugar accumulation^4,24, high pH⁴ and low TA²⁴
• Contradicting information regarding anthocyanin content ranging from low¹⁰ to high⁴  
• Supple, good fruit character^17,23,25 and weight, plummy and meaty notes great structure as a ‘foundation’ clone in a blend¹⁵.

• Received a mid-range wine score when compared to D5V12A, H7V15, D2V5, G5V15, 114, and 115 in a Tasmanian trial¹⁰.

Comment:

Most commonly grown Pinot Noir clone in Australia¹⁵.

Clone: D2V5

Origin:   Wädenswil, Switzerland

Introduced to UCD in 1952 then registered in 1962 as FPS 01A¹⁶

Imported into Australia in 1969 by CSIRSO

Accession Number: IW958104  

Vine performance:

• Pinot droitgroup, upright habit, mid season²⁵
• Contradicting information regarding yield ranging from low¹⁴ to high^9,13,15,24
• High yields attributed to large bunches and high bunch numbers per vine ²⁴
• Large berries⁹

Wine attributes:

• High TA^8,14,15
• Low¹⁰ to medium⁹ anthocyanin content
• Wine quality ranges from medium⁹ to high¹⁴
• Medium weight but can be thin²⁵, low aromatics, characters can range from dark fruits and spice to herbal¹⁵

Comment:

First introduced to WA in 1972 (accession No. IW728104) and reintroduced in 1995 (IW958104) from South Australian Department of Agriculture.

Appendix

Pinot noir clones were placed in 4 groups based on observations and published descriptions from Oregon State University^3,20.

Pinot noir group	Attributes
Pinot fin	Typically have small bunches and thick and lobed to deeply lobed leaves, prostrate growth habit.
Mariafeld	Most noted for having loose clusters.
Pinot droit (upright)	Erect shoot growth habit.
Fertile	Large clusters and prostrate growth habit with leaves thin, smooth, and not deeply lobed, prostrate growth habit.

 

References

1. Barker, A 2019, ‘Identifying the effect of clone and rootstock on viticultural performance, fruit composition and winemaking potential for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling, in Niagara, Ontario’, MA thesis, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario.
2. Becker, N, Thoma, K & Zimmermann H 1988, ‘Performance of Pinot noir clones’, Proceedings second international cool climate viticulture and oenology symposium, Auckland, New Zealand, January 1988, pp. 282-284.
3. Castagnoli, SP & Vasconcelos, MC 2006, ‘Field Performance of 20 'Pinot noir' Clones in the Willamette Valley of Oregon’, Hort Technology, January-March, 2006, pp. 153-161.
4. Cirami, R & Ewart, A 1993, Investigation of clone-site interaction of Pinot Noir in two distinct climatic regions, final report for project DAS 13 GW, Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation, Adelaide.
5. Corino, L, Sansone, L, Malerba, G & Gianone M 1999, ‘Evaluation of Pinot Noir clonal selections for sparkling wines in some areas in Piedmont’, Rivista di viticultura e di enologia, 1999, pp. 27-52.
6. Cortell, J, Castagnoli, S & Vasconcelos, M 2001, ‘Evaluation of varieties, clones, and rootstocks Performance of Pinot noir and Chardonnay clones’, Oregon Wine Advisory Board Research Progress Report, pp.110-128.
7. Dry, N 2012, ‘Pinot Noir Clones: towards a better understanding of the impacts of site on
   performance’, Yalumba Nursery, Nuriootpa SA, PowerPoint presentation, viewed 13 September 2021, <https://pinotmassif.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/NDRY_Pinot-Massif.pdf>.
8. Ewart, A & Sitters J 1987, ‘Oenological parameters for the selection of Pinot noir and Chardonnay’, Aspects of grapevine improvement in Australia (proceedings) Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology, SA.
9. Ewart, A & Sitters J 1988, ‘Wine assessment of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling clones’, Proceedings second international cool climate viticulture and oenology symposium, Auckland, New Zealand, January, pp. 201-205.
10. Farquhar, D 2001, Evaluation of the quality performance of the clones of Pinot Noir, [Poster] 11th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference, Adelaide, viewed 13 September 2021,  <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275276423_Evaluation_of_the_Qua....
11. Grapegrower & Winemaker April 2019, 'Roundtable: Pinot Clones', Grapegrower & Winemaker, pp. 64-70.
12. Hoskins, N & Thorpe, G 2010 'The Pinot noir portfolio', Marlborough Winepress, June.
13. McCarthy M 1988, ‘Clonal comparisons with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling clones’, Proceedings second international cool climate viticulture and oenology symposium, Auckland, New Zealand, January, pp. 285-286.
14. Mochizuki, M, Donovan, L, Aiken, J & Walsh, M 1995, ‘Clonal effect on Pinot noir yield and wine quality parameters’, International symposium on clonal selection, Portland, Oregon, 1995, pp.129-131.
15. Mornington Peninsula International Pinot Noir Celebration Booklet, 2011, Victoria.
16. Nelson-Kluk, S, 2003, 'History of Pinot noir at FPS', FPS Grape Program Newsletter, October, pp. 9-13, California.
17. Nicholas, P 2006, ‘Grapevine Clone used in Australia’, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Adelaide.
18. Plantgrape.plantnet-project.org. (n.d.). Plantgrape, viewed 13 September 2021, < https://plantgrape.plantnet-project.org/en/cepage/Pinot%20noir>.
19. Pool, RM, Henick-Kling, T, Howard, G.E., Gavitt B.K. &, Johnson, T.J. 1995, ‘Pinot noir clonal research in New York’, International symposium on clonal selection, Portland, Oregon, 1995, pp. 45-51.
20. Price, S & Watson, B 1995, ‘Preliminary results from an Oregon Pinot noir Clonal trial’, International symposium on clonal selection, Portland, Oregon, 1995, pp. 40-44.
21. Stefanini, M, Iacono, F., De Micheli, L, & Porro, D 1995, ‘Adaptability of Pinot Noir clones to different altitudes’, Acta Horticulture 388, pp. 71-76.
22. Watson, B, Lombard, P, Price, S, McDaniel, M & Heatherbell, D 1988, ‘Evaluation of Pinot noir clones in Oregon’, Proceedings second international cool climate viticulture and oenology symposium, Auckland, New Zealand, January, pp. 276-278.
23. Whiting, J 2003, Selection of Grapevine rootstocks and clones for Greater Victoria, Victoria.
24. Whiting, J & Hardie, W 1990, ‘Comparison of selections of Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Noir at Great Western, Victoria’, Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 30, pp. 281-285.
25. Woodleanursery.com.au,  2021, viewed 13 September 2021, <http://woodleanursery.com.au/varieties%20and%20clones.pdf>.
26. www.fps.ucdavis.edu 2021, Foundation Plant Services, viewed 13 September 2021, <https://fps.ucdavis.edu/fgrdetails.cfm?varietyid=1184>
27. www.riversun.co.nz. (n.d.). Varieties and Clones» Riversun | Growing Excellence, viewed 13 September 2021, <https://www.riversun.co.nz/grapevines/varieties-and- clones/vclone/425#varietal-216>.
28. www.yalumbanursery.com. (n.d.). Yalumba Nursery Varieties + Clones, viewed 13 September 2021, < https://www.yalumbanursery.com/varieties>.
29. www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Riversun’s Pinot Noir Clones, viewed 13 September 2021, < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Eub1YufpQE>.

Yu-Yi Liao, Technical Officer

Richard Fennessy, Research Scientist