The year 2003 can be regarded as a good year for clone certification. Indeed, the Vine section of the CTPS gathered on December 11th 2003 and decided in favor of the approval of 13 new clones proposed by ENTAV and its local partners and 5 other clones of Gewurztraminer Rs proposed by INRA Colmar and the CIVA.
Among these varieties, some of them are major for the french and international viticulture, others are of limited diffusion for which it did not exist until now any clone approved.

Note: the approval of new clones does not mean that those are available immediately for the winegrowers. For certain selections, it will be necessary to wait a few years before having a significant diffusion.

1. CERTIFIED CLONES PROPOSED BY ENTAV

1.1 CHARDONNAY B 1066, 1067 AND 1068
LOCAL PARTNER : VITICULTURAL TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION OF BURGUNDY (ATVB)

1066 has a potential of production very limited due to small clusters and a rather important “hens and chickens”. It is able to produce fine, typical and well structured wines. It is more often preferred during tasting. It is recommended to blend it with other clones.

1067 shows technological and enological characteristics close to 548. However, its potential of production is lower than 548 and its wines have a higher alcoholic content.

1068 is also rather close to 548 with regard to yield and sugar content data. On the other hand, from a tasting point of view, it is characterized by its particular “Muscat” flavor (like 809).

1.2 VIOGNIER B 1051
LOCAL PARTNER : AGRICULTURAL CHAMBER OF ARDECHE

It is the third clone approved after 642 in 1979 and 1042 in 2003.

Viticultural characteristics: 1051 has an intermediate yield potential between 642 productive one and 1042 lesser productive. The number as well as the size of the clusters and berries are average.
Enological characteristics: Alcohol content is of good level but not as high as in 1042. On the other hand, during tasting, 1051 was often preferred.

1.3 MOURVEDRE N 1069
LOCAL PARTNER : AGRICULTURAL CHAMBER OF VAR

1069 results from prospecting carried out in Spain in the years 1980, in the area of Jumilla in the South-east of Valence.
It is the first clone approved for this variety since 1976.

Viticultural characteristics: 1069 has a potential of production lower than 369 judged until now like the most qualitative of the approved clones. If the number of clusters is close for the 2 clones, the berries of 1069 are smaller.
Enological characteristics: the degrees obtained are higher and acidity remains in the average of the range. In tasting, the wine resulting from 1069 is among those appreciated by the jury which noted its balance in mouth and its spicy notes which supplement its “animal touch”.

1.4 NIELLUCCIO N 997
LOCAL PARTNER : CIVAM OF THE CORSICA REGION

Niellucio N counts 4 clones approved to date of which 2 GLRaV-2: 902 and 904. The two other clones are 903 and 960. The objective is to propose a new clone free from GLRaV-2 and showing growing and technological characteristics at least comparable with the certified clones.

Viticultural characteristics: the potential of production is average with a fertility and an aspect of the clusters comparable with clone 902. Enological characteristics: Alcohol is also in the average, on the other hand the total acidity is a little weaker than in the others. During tasting, wines of clone 997 are appreciated better than those of clone 903.

1.5 MOLLARD N 993 AND 996

This variety is native of Hautes-Alpes Wines are pleasant, fresh, light and well colored. They are the first two approved clones. 993 and 996 have different viticultural characteristics: 996 is rather less productive with an average fertility while 993 is more productive with a higher number of clusters. In both cases, the berries are rather large and the potential of accumulation of sugars is moderate (slightly higher for 996).

1.6 ETRAIRE DE LA DUI N 1070
LOCAL PARTNER : AGRICULTURAL CHAMBER OF SAVOIE

This variety is native of Isere. Wines are colored and rather tannic wines with aging potential. It is the first clone approved for this variety. According to first results, 1070 presents a lower yield compared to the other non certified clones. The number of clusters per vine is medium but clusters are smaller. On the other hand, berries are rather large like the majority of the clones of this variety. Sugar content is slightly higher than the average.

1.7 FUELLA NERA N 1073 AND 1074

This variety is native of Alpes-Maritimes and more particularly of the vineyard of Bellet. Wines are structured, colored, rather fine and aromatic. They are the first two approved clones. 1073 and 1074 are a little less productive than the other non certified clones. 1074 has the lowest yield potential with reduced cluster size, compared to the others. 1073 show a higher potential of production with an average fertility but its berries are smaller. Both have slightly higher sugar content than the other clones.

1.8 TERRET BLANC B 1071 AND 1072

They are the first two clones approved for this variety native of Languedoc. 1071 and 1072 prove to be a little less productive than the average of the non certified clones studied. 1072 has the lowest yield potential with smaller clusters than the others. 1071 shows a potential higher than 1072 but its fertility is lower than the average. Sugar content is slightly higher for 1072.

2. CERTIFIED CLONES PROPOSED BY INRA

GEWURZTRAMINER Rs 1075, 1076, 1077, 1078 AND 1079
LOCAL PARTNERS : INRA COLMAR AND THE INTERPROFESSIONAL COUNCIL OF WINES OF ALSACE

Caution: These clones will be available in category "certified" only as of 2007.

Preceding approval concerning Gewurztraminer goes back to 1980; it was for 643.

1075 is close to the certified 47, with regard to the potential of production and the degree of maturity. On the other hand, its wines are better and it is slightly more vigorous. It seems adapted to situations of slopes.

1076 is much less productive than 47 and presents rather loose clusters. It reaches higher degrees of maturity and gives better appreciated wines. In spite of its low level of production, it is less vigorous than 47.

1077 has the same potential of production as 47 but presents a greater regularity concerning the number of berries per cluster. Its organoleptic qualities are definitely higher than the references (47 or 643). 1078 and 1079 are also very close to 47 in comparison with the yield components. They are on the other hand much more stable for the size of the clusters, positive factor for a variety sensitive to “coulure” like Gewurztraminer.

1078 has an interesting sugar/acid balance and nears 47 in qualitative terms.

1079, largely more vigorous, gives a better appreciated wine.