Comments on: Joeseph Swan and Suitcase Clones Cont. http://www.pinotblogger.com/2006/02/08/joeseph-swan-and-suitcase-clones-cont/ A blog about starting and building a family winery in the Russian River Valley Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:08:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: John http://www.pinotblogger.com/2006/02/08/joeseph-swan-and-suitcase-clones-cont/#comment-253 John Mon, 17 Apr 2006 21:29:12 +0000 http://www.pinotblogger.com/2006/02/08/joeseph-swan-and-suitcase-clones-cont/#comment-253 As I continue browsing your blog I come across this subject -- one near and dear to my heart. Scandal? Hey, ALL of the grapes we grow here in CA were once suitcase selections (in the case of Agoston Haraszthy it was probably more like several steamer trunks). All the grapes in France and Italy were suitcase selections centuries ago. Grapevine imporatation and certification programs are recent phenomena. Some might say impedimenta, but that would be irresponsible. Ticking off a few other great Pinot vineyards that may (or may not) have been supplied with wood from DRC, or at least some properties along the Route de Grands Crus: Louis Martini's original Carneros planting (now gone), Chalone's old Estate (now gone), some of Josh Jensen's plantings at Calera, maybe Hanzell? Maybe part of Bien Nacido? And given the current push to plant more Pinot, probably more than a few new plantings as well. Rod may be able to keep keep the canes on the DRC vines at Swan, but everyone in the world can get a map that shows just where to go for the real thing in Burgundy. That said, I am sticking contentedly with registered clones for planting our Estate vineyard. Because with Pinot it really is all about terroir. I believe DRC would still taste like DRC no matter what is planted there (within reason). Years ago I had a conversation with where he told me that they went to "the communes across the river" for their selection massale. As I continue browsing your blog I come across this subject — one near and dear to my heart. Scandal? Hey, ALL of the grapes we grow here in CA were once suitcase selections (in the case of Agoston Haraszthy it was probably more like several steamer trunks). All the grapes in France and Italy were suitcase selections centuries ago. Grapevine imporatation and certification programs are recent phenomena. Some might say impedimenta, but that would be irresponsible.

Ticking off a few other great Pinot vineyards that may (or may not) have been supplied with wood from DRC, or at least some properties along the Route de Grands Crus: Louis Martini’s original Carneros planting (now gone), Chalone’s old Estate (now gone), some of Josh Jensen’s plantings at Calera, maybe Hanzell? Maybe part of Bien Nacido? And given the current push to plant more Pinot, probably more than a few new plantings as well. Rod may be able to keep keep the canes on the DRC vines at Swan, but everyone in the world can get a map that shows just where to go for the real thing in Burgundy.

That said, I am sticking contentedly with registered clones for planting our Estate vineyard. Because with Pinot it really is all about terroir. I believe DRC would still taste like DRC no matter what is planted there (within reason). Years ago I had a conversation with where he told me that they went to “the communes across the river” for their selection massale.

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