Pinot Noir Clones: Understanding the Genetic Diversity at Morgan’s Double L Vineyard

In the Santa Lucia Highlands of California, Morgan’s Double L Vineyard has assembled one of the region’s most comprehensive clonal collections. Our thirteen distinct Pinot Noir clones represent a systematic exploration of how genetic diversity expresses itself through our specific terroir. This extensive clonal collection is unusual in the industry – most vineyards plant only 2-4 different clones, making Double L’s collection a rare opportunity to study genetic variation within a single site.

Our viticultural approach centers on separate harvest and vinification of each clone, allowing us to understand their individual ripening patterns, extraction characteristics, and wine profiles before making blending decisions. This methodology reveals how genetic traits manifest differently each vintage, providing both consistency and flexibility in our winemaking program.

The Heritage Foundation: California’s Pioneering Genetics

Pommard 4 & Pommard 5: Verified Burgundian Provenance

The Pommard clones represent some of California’s most important genetic material, with documented provenance tracing to the Pommard region in Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune. Dr. Harold Olmo, the renowned UC Davis viticulturist and geneticist known as the “Indiana Jones of Viticulture,” was instrumental in importing superior European grape material through systematic plant exploration. The Pommard selections were among the early scientifically validated clones to enter California, coming to Foundation Plant Services around 1956 from this renowned Burgundian wine region.

Pommard 5 demonstrates classic heritage clone characteristics in our vineyard: vigorous growth with naturally high productivity that requires careful crop management for quality fruit. The clone exhibits late phenological development, typically ripening after our Dijon selections. In our vineyard, Pommard 5 shows perfectly uniform, small tight bunches with heavy fruit set.

Our Pommard 5 wines consistently show structured profiles with the ability to develop complexity over time. Across multiple vintages, we observe recurring themes of black cherry and raspberry characteristics, though specific aromatics vary significantly – from eucalyptus and cedar in some years to sandalwood and espresso bean in others. The wines maintain elegance despite their intensity, with medium body and well-integrated tannins.

Pommard 4 presents distinctly different morphology with its characteristic branched cluster architecture – long clusters that fork at the top with medium to small berries in loose formation. This loose formation and longer cluster structure promote good air circulation and reduce disease pressure. The structural difference affects ripening patterns and extraction during winemaking, contributing unique elements to our blending palette.

Clone 2A: Early California Selection

Clone 2A represents California’s early selection work, displaying compact growth habits with small, tight cluster formation. As one of the California origin clones originally evaluated by Foundation Plant Services at UC Davis, it carries the genetic memory of early attempts to establish Pinot Noir in the Golden State. This heritage clone demonstrates natural yield limitation and concentrated fruit characteristics with small, tight clusters, typical of selections made for quality over quantity in California’s developing Pinot Noir industry.

Clone 23: Distinctive Heritage Selection

Clone 23 stands out morphologically with its full canopy development and distinctive cluster structure – long and loosely packed formations, particularly at the apex, with notably small berries. This unique architecture suggests careful selection for specific viticultural characteristics that perform well in California conditions.

Clone 97: The Swan Heritage

Clone 97 carries one of California’s most storied Pinot Noir lineages, tracing back to Joseph Swan’s pioneering work in the Russian River Valley. Originally planted in 1969, Swan’s selections came primarily from Mount Eden but likely included direct Burgundian cuttings that the Burgundy-loving airline pilot acquired during his frequent travels to France. This genetic blend traveled through UC Davis experimental plots at Oakville, then to Francis Mahoney’s Carneros Creek clonal trials, before finally being registered as FPS 97 in 1997 following tissue culture therapy. In the Double L Vineyard, Clone 97 exhibits oblong berries and small, loose cluster formation. It’s one of our least vigorous clones.

The Suitcase Clones: Unverified Burgundian Material

Perhaps the most intriguing chapters in our clonal story belong to Clone Morgan LT and Clone Morgan RC—our so-called “suitcase clones.” These selections represent the romantic, clandestine side of varietal development, where passionate growers smuggled rootstock from famous French vineyards, carrying genetic treasures in their luggage.

We cannot reveal who provided these cuttings or confirm which legendary Burgundian vineyards they originated from, but the initials may offer curious Pinot-philes a tantalizing hint. While we cannot verify their origins scientifically, both clones display characteristics consistent with high-quality Burgundian genetics and perform with the distinction one would expect from premium vineyard selections.

Clone Morgan LT: Suspected Grand Cru Genetics

Clone Morgan LT is rumored to share the same source as the famous “Pisoni Clone” planted elsewhere in the Santa Lucia Highlands, though provenance naturally cannot be confirmed. Morphologically, Clone LT produces heavy fruit set with uniformly large berries forming substantial, full clusters. The wines demonstrate remarkable consistency in their seductive aromatics – baking spices and blackberry dominate, often accompanied by anise and distinctive blueberry notes that suggest cool-climate Burgundian heritage.

What sets Clone LT apart is its ability to combine intensity with elegance. Despite rich fruit concentration, the wines maintain light body structure with soft, refined tannins that speak to sophisticated genetic selection from premium vineyard sites.

Clone Morgan RC: The Upright Enigma

Clone Morgan RC exhibits the distinctive “pinot droît” growth pattern – shoots that stand naturally upright rather than requiring extensive trellising support. This morphological trait, combined with very loose cluster formation and uniform small berries, creates a visually distinctive presence in the vineyard.

The wines from Morgan RC showcase what we describe as a “feminine” style – delicate, refined, and light on their feet. Consistent strawberry and rose petal aromatics with mocha undertones translate to wines with pronounced elegance, featuring tart cherry and pomegranate flavors that emphasize finesse over power.

Dijon Clones: Modern Burgundian Precision

The Dijon clones, originally selected by the University of Dijon in Burgundy, revolutionized California Pinot Noir in the 1990s and 2000s. These selections are officially certified by ENTAV-INRA® (L’Etablissement National Technique pour l’Amélioration de la Viticulture/Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique), France’s national grapevine research institute, which guarantees their origin and authenticity from specific Burgundian vineyard sites throughout the Côte-d’Or region. The Dijon clones gained popularity for their early ripening characteristics, disease resistance, and balanced productivity – qualities particularly valuable in California’s diverse growing conditions.

Clone 667: Aromatic Intensity Specialist

Clone 667, one of the most widely planted Dijon selections, demonstrates early ripening with medium-sized bunches showing variable berry size within clusters. This natural variation may contribute to the complexity we observe in wines from this clone. The small, tight cluster formation naturally limits yields while concentrating flavors.

Our Clone 667 wines consistently display lean, energetic profiles with distinctive aromatic signatures. Wild cherry and rose petal notes dominate, often accompanied by unique pine forest characteristics that set this clone apart. The palate shows bright red fruit with savory herb complexity and rose hip notes, supported by light body structure and refined tannin integration.

Clone 777: Concentration Through Natural Limitation

Clone 777 produces smaller clusters with loose packing and notable berry size variation within individual clusters. This irregular development pattern may contribute to the wine’s complexity through varied extraction rates during fermentation.

Clone 777 wines demonstrate remarkable consistency in showing cranberry aromatics – a signature that appears across multiple vintages, sometimes accompanied by violet, dark cherry, strawberry, or cinnamon notes. The palate delivers intensity through concentration rather than weight, with raspberry, cedar, and mocha flavors supported by light to medium body structure and soft tannin profiles.

Clone 115: The Program Backbone

Clone 115’s widespread adoption reflects its reliable performance across diverse conditions. In our vineyard, it produces substantial fruit set similar to Clone LT, with both large and small bunches featuring uniformly mid-sized berries in tight formations that require careful crop management.

We consider Clone 115 the spine of our Pinot Noir program due to its structural contributions. The wines show complex tannin profiles with good color concentration, making them ideal for both standalone bottlings and blending components that need backbone. Consistent pomegranate, anise, and blackberry aromatics translate to wines with deep black raspberry flavors, medium body, and silky tannin integration.

Clone 114: Perfume and Structure Balance

Clone 114 produces moderate-sized bunches with looser cluster formation, particularly at the apex. The Dijon clones are often characterized by their specific contributions to blends, and Clone 114 is particularly valued for adding aromatic complexity and structural components without overwhelming other varieties in the blend.

Clone 828: The Structural Enigma

Clone 828’s origins remain fascinatingly unclear – sources variously attribute it to Burgundy’s La Tâche vineyard, classify it as a Dijon clone, or argue it represents neither category. What we observe consistently is its “pinot droît” architecture with naturally upright shoot growth, small tight bunches with uniform berries, and reliable annual production.

The clone demonstrates early ripening characteristics with excellent acid retention, producing medium-colored wines with elegant profiles. Our Clone 828 wines show bright, energetic character with distinctive raspberry and sarsaparilla aromatics accompanied by baking spices – a unique aromatic signature that includes cherry, blackberry, and allspice on the palate.

Clone 943: Quality Through Restriction

Clone 943 represents advanced selection methodology, introduced in 1989. Notably, this is one of the few Dijon clones for which the French negotiated royalty payments for each propagated vine in the United States – an indication of its perceived genetic value.

In our vineyard, Clone 943 produces loose bunches with long formation and varied berry sizes. True to advanced selection principles, it naturally limits yields while producing highly aromatic wines with supple, velvety tannins and deep color concentration. The combination of low yields and small berries creates inherently concentrated fruit.

Vintage Expression and Genetic Plasticity

The fascinating aspect of maintaining this clonal diversity lies in observing how each genetic line responds to vintage variation. Some clones, like Clone 777 with its cranberry signature, maintain consistent aromatic profiles across years while varying in secondary characteristics. Others, such as Pommard 5, show remarkable plasticity – expressing eucalyptus and cedar in some vintages while displaying espresso and sandalwood notes in others.

This genetic diversity provides both insurance against unfavorable vintage conditions and opportunities to craft different wine styles based on how each growing season affects individual clones. Early-ripening clones like 667 and 828 offer harvest flexibility, while late-ripening selections like Pommard 5 extend our harvest window and provide different aromatic profiles.

Terroir Interaction and Winemaking Philosophy

Our separate vinification approach allows each clone’s genetic characteristics to fully express themselves through our Santa Lucia Highlands terroir before we make blending decisions. This methodology reveals how different genetic lines interact with our specific soil types, elevation, and mesoclimate to produce distinct wine profiles.

The cool growing conditions of the Santa Lucia Highlands, with persistent maritime influence and afternoon winds that moderate photosynthesis, favor extended hang time and gradual phenolic development – conditions that allow each clone’s genetic potential to fully manifest. Some clones consistently excel as standalone bottlings, while others contribute specific characteristics that enhance blended wines.

The Future of Genetic Diversity

Our thirteen-clone collection represents more than just viticultural variety – it embodies a systematic approach to understanding how genetic diversity can enhance wine quality and provide flexibility in responding to changing growing conditions. Each clone contributes distinct characteristics that reflect both their heritage and their adaptation to our specific terroir.

As we continue accumulating vintage data, patterns emerge that guide both viticultural management and winemaking decisions. This scientific approach to genetic diversity ensures that Double L Vineyard can continue producing distinctive Pinot Noir while maintaining the flexibility to respond to whatever future growing seasons may bring.

The story continues to evolve with each harvest, as we deepen our understanding of how these thirteen genetic lines express themselves through our unique corner of the Santa Lucia Highlands.