Clonal Programme
Introduction to our clonal programme:
Picardy’s clonal approach is consistent with the vineyard management practices used in France, aimed to propagate the best genetic material from a vineyard ('selection massale') and to use a blend of carefully selected clones that necessarily will produce a wine of greater complexity and quality than if made from any single clone.
Picardy's Pinot Noir and Tête de Cuvée wines are made up of 11 different Pinot Noir clones (9 of the 11 are French Dijon selections) while our Chardonnay has 4 different Chardonnay clones (all four are French Dijon selections).
We are often asked which clones are the best. Since a careful selection of several clones in our opinion can result in better wines, we are tempted to say "all of them". Secondly, a particular characteristic typified in one clone may not seem that appealing in isolation but it might be an important part of a blend of fruit from various clones. We therefore offer a few brief observations below about some aspects of individual clones that we are seeing expressed at Picardy with our terroir, climate, soils and growing style.
Background
During Bill and Sandra's involvement in a Domaine in Burgundy in the 1980s, they became aware of a substantial clonal selection trial, which had been carried out for more than a decade. Several hundred selections of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay taken from many of the Domaines in Burgundy were trialled. Of these, four Chardonnay (76, 95, 96 and 277) and 3 Pinot Noir clones (114, 115 and 777) were selected as the best and the Pannell family brought them to Australia.
The Pannells have now imported a further 6 clones of Pinot from Corton. These clones were chosen on the basis of the quality of wine produced from them, rather than yield.
Friends in Burgundy advised Bill and Sandra to plant a mix of all of the clones to increase the complexity of the resulting wines. Observations to date suggest that there is considerable variation among the eleven clones of Pinot with respect to growth habits, bunch size, yields, flavour and wine structure.
The Sauvignon Blanc (3 clones), Semillon, Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are also special selections, chosen with the same emphasis on quality in mind.
Picardy’s Pinot Noir clones:
Striving to make Pinot of old-world style we have selected eleven clones that promote a balance of earthy complex structure alongside the bright fruit characteristics consistent with the wines that have inspired us.
Over 25 years, the Pannell family brought the first of clones 114, 115 and 777 into Western Australia and also imported 6 new clones from Grand Cru Corton in Burgundy. Picardy is believed to be the only Australian producer to have these 6 clones.
The various flavour profiles associated with each selected clone can range from the sour spectrum to the ripe, even jammy or stewy spectrum - depending on ripeness. Picardy aims for a range of ripeness levels so as to increase the complexity of a desired blend of flavours, fragrance and appearance. While some flavour profiles on their own may seem unlikely to be chosen, they may be a valuable component of a blend. For example, we believe that Pinot Noir ultimately benefits from a touch of astringency or sourness in a portion of the fruit, to enhance the back palate and length of the overall wine.
We feel that our terroir adds a gravelly, struck flint minerality from the ironstone gravels.
Clonal characteristics:
- Clone 114 - Sweet red fruit, red currant, rose petal.
- Clone 115 – Dark cherry pith with some earthy truffle characters.
- Clone 777 – Sois Bois, root beer, black olive, earthy, truffly characters. Probably this is
the most complex of all of the clones.
- The Droopy Clone (which is considered to be the Pommard clone) – Imparts strawberry.
- The Upright Clone - Barnyard and dairy characters. It also can be quite structural and imparts good colour.
- The six new clones - Selected for their small berries and bunches (hen and chicken), they have a combination of both earthy and fruit driven characteristics. They are opulent and rich and give aromas and flavours of cherry, Turkish delight, rosewater, black fruits, spices, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Dark chocolate (a bit dark chocolate rocky road) with intense flavours, colours, structure and tannins.
Picardy’s Chardonnay clones:
Striving to make a Chardonnay of old-world style we have selected four clones that promote the tight citrus and floral characteristics consistent with the wines that have inspired us.
The Pannell Family brought in four Chardonnay clones (76, 95, 96 and 277) from the Eastern States into Western Australia. Those clones were selected by the winemakers from the University of Dijon for the characteristics sought by Picardy.
We have since seen the clones express the following characteristics:
- Clones 95 and 96 - Citrus and floral flavours.
- Clone 277 - Spiciness, tightness.
- Clone 76 – White peach. It has the smallest berries and bunches with the most hen and chicken, thereby giving the most tannin and structure of these clones.