Clone Showdown: 115, 777, and the Pinot Ensemble (Bite-Sized Burgundy ㉗)
- Dijon Clones: Developed by the University of Dijon to save Burgundy from high-yielding, dilute clones in the 1970s.
- Distinct Personalities: Clone 115 provides elegant perfume; 667 brings dark color and firm tannins; 777 delivers rich, fleshy black fruit.
- The Ensemble Blend: Most top winemakers blend these clones together to create a multi-dimensional wine.
Burgundy wine is legendary, but its classification layers can feel like an endless maze. Let's break down another essential topic in our bite-sized guide using a simple, real-world analogy.
🏫 The Feynman Analogy: Casting an Ensemble Movie
Imagine casting a movie. If you cast three identical, intense action stars, the movie will be loud but flat. Instead, you cast a **perfumed, elegant lead actress** for emotion (Clone 115), a **muscular, heavy-set bodyguard** for structure (Clone 667), and a **charismatic, flamboyant actor** for color and spice (Clone 777). Together, their different personalities create a classic, balanced story.
This is the logic of a clonal blend. In the 1970s, scientists in Burgundy selected specific high-quality clones, known as the 'Dijon Clones'. Winemakers plant different blocks of these clones. Clone 115 is the fragrant poet, offering high-toned rose petal and raspberry. Clone 667 is the structural backbone, bringing deep color, thick skins, and firm tannins. Clone 777 is the crowd-pleaser, loaded with fleshy black cherry and sweet spice. By blending them, winemakers assemble a complete, multi-layered wine.
❓ The "Aha!" Q&A
Q: What does 'Dijon Clone' mean?
A: It refers to clones officially certified by Raymond Bernard at the University of Dijon in Burgundy, selected for high-quality, small-berry production.
Q: Can you taste clone differences in the finished wine?
A: Yes! When vinified under identical conditions, Clone 777 will taste visibly darker and fleshier than the lighter, more floral Clone 115.
🍷 Side-by-Side Tasting Comparison
To truly understand this concept, there is no substitute for tasting. Compare these two distinct hand-selected bottles side-by-side to experience the difference in wind, soil, and tier level:
Sidewood ‘777’ Pinot Noir
Experience the intense, dark cherry fruit, rich texture, and voluptuous mouthfeel characteristic of the famous Dijon Clone 777.
Sidewood ‘Oberlin’ Pinot Noir
Contrast the fleshy Dijon style with the Oberlin clone, known for its herbal complexity, higher acid spine, and firm structural framework.
