Clones, what are they? If your mind goes to Star Wars, you ’ re getting colder. We are talking about grape varietal clones, and specifically the exquisite clones growing at Regan Estate Vineyards. Before getting into why they are so essential for winemakers and growers alike, we should have a better understanding of what they are. Grapevines self-pollinate, and unlike other plants, they do not rely on bees to fertilize. Through natural mutation in the vineyard, grapevines produce clones which are slightly different than the original vine. The older the varietal the more the clones. Pinot Noir is one of the oldest wine varietals in the world and therefore has dozens of clones.
To propagate a new clone, a bud or a dormant cane from the “mother vine” is either cut off and grafted or planted directly into the soil. When this is done the new plant has the genetic content of the “mother vine” and therefore will be a clone. Now, with this introduction to clones we can now discuss the four specific clones of Pinot Noir that make their home at Regan Vineyards.
Pommard, Mt. Eden, Martini, and Dijon, sound familiar? They should. These are the clones that are responsible for the complex and refined Pinot Noirs for which BARGETTO is known. Each clone meticulously adds a different layer to our Reserve Pinot Noir. The Pommard and Mt. Eden clones are especially distinct and plentiful as to be bottled on their own. The Pommard clone wine is the backbone to our Reserve Pinot Noir with its luscious fruit and cherry pie flavors. The Dijon’s flavor profile is typically earthy with complex meaty flavors. The Martini delivers beautiful floral and vanilla aromas with hints of sweet cherries and dried herbs. Lastly, the Mt. Eden clone, brought to the Santa Cruz Mountains by Paul Masson in the late 19th century, is very dark and rich and offers tremendous bass tones to the wine.
I caught up with John Bargetto, Regan Vineyards owner, to ask a few questions about why he chose the clones he did. Well, as it turns out it was not an easy decision for John. It took him three years to decide what clones of Pinot Noir would be best suited at Regan Vineyards and provide the best wines for BARGETTO WINERY’S Pinot Noir program for years to come. This article may seem a bit biased when describing the BARGETTO clones, however, you don't have to just take my word for it; the award -winning wines speak for themselves, having won multiple gold medals and 90+ points in Wine Enthusiast Magazine, including 95 points on our 2021 SCM Reserve Pinot Noir!
John tending to his grapes at Regan Vineyards
In addition to the Pinot Noir clones, there are two clones of Chardonnay grown in Regan Vineyards, which go into making our Reserve Chardonnay. This Reserve Chardonnay is a blend of our barrel-fermented Clone 4 and the Mount Eden clone grapes. The clone 4 shows off tropical aromas of pineapple, passionfruit while the Mount Eden clone adds hints of mineral and spiced pear cider.
