Morgan Twelve Clones Pinot Noir

Morgan Twelve Clones Pinot Noir is a 750ml, 13.9% ABV Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir built from over twelve distinct clones planted at Morgan Winery's organic Double L estate vineyard. The 2022 and 2023 vintages each earned 94 points from Wine Enthusiast, cementing this bottling's reputation as one of California's most consistently rewarding Pinot Noirs at its price tier.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.9%  |  Origin: Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, California  |  Style: Multi-Clone Blend  |  Producer: Morgan Winery

Production & Heritage

Morgan Winery sources the majority of fruit for Twelve Clones from its own Double L vineyard — a certified organic site in the Santa Lucia Highlands that accounts for roughly 65% of the final blend in recent vintages. The remaining fruit comes from neighboring highland vineyards planted to complementary Pinot Noir selections. Grapes are hand-sorted twice (once in the vineyard, once at the winery), then destemmed for whole-berry fermentation using native yeasts in small, open-top tanks. The cap is punched down by hand twice daily to extract color and flavor with precision rather than brute force. After fermentation, the wine ages for nine months in French cooperage — 30% new barrels balanced with one- and two-year-old oak — giving structure without masking the fruit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe raspberry and dark cherry lead, followed by more complex layers of bay laurel, bergamot tea, and dried rose petal. A faint mineral quality — sometimes described as crushed slate — adds a savory edge beneath the fruit.

Taste: The entry is bright and clean, with crisp cranberry and wild cherry at the forefront. Mid-palate, the wine gains richness as cola, sandalwood, and sweet baking spices emerge. A potpourri-like floral character weaves through the fruit without turning heavy, and toasted oak provides a subtle backbone.

Finish: Medium-plus in length, with elegant tannins and balanced acidity carrying flavors of dried herbs, leather, and lingering raspberry. The finish stays savory and composed rather than jammy, rewarding patience with each sip.

How to Drink Twelve Clones

This Pinot Noir is best served slightly cool — around 58–62°F — in a wide-bowled glass that lets the aromatics open fully. It drinks beautifully on its own and rewards a 15-minute decant, especially on younger vintages. For cocktail-curious drinkers: a Pinot Noir Spritz (with sparkling water and a twist of orange peel) highlights the wine's bright berry character; a Red Sangria built with fresh stone fruit and a splash of brandy plays well against the cola and spice notes; and a Burgundy Kir (a small measure of crème de cassis topped with Twelve Clones) deepens the cherry profile into something luxurious.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners where you want something a step above everyday wine
• Gifting to a Pinot Noir lover who appreciates Santa Lucia Highlands terroir
• Hosting a blind tasting of California vs. Burgundy Pinot Noirs
• Building a case of reliable, cellar-worthy California reds under $30

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Twelve Clones taste like? Twelve Clones delivers bright raspberry, wild cherry, and cola flavors layered with sandalwood, dried herbs, and subtle toasted oak, all framed by elegant tannins and balanced acidity.

How does Twelve Clones compare to other Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noirs? Santa Lucia Highlands is known for producing Pinot Noirs with bright acidity and concentrated fruit due to its cool, wind-swept climate; Twelve Clones exemplifies that profile while adding complexity through its twelve-plus clonal selections and organic estate fruit. Compared to higher-priced single-vineyard bottlings from the appellation, it consistently punches above its weight — evidenced by back-to-back 94-point scores from Wine Enthusiast.

Is Twelve Clones good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its medium-plus body, layered aromatics, and refined tannin structure make it an ideal wine to drink on its own, especially served slightly below room temperature.

Where is Twelve Clones made? Morgan Winery produces Twelve Clones in Monterey County, California, sourcing primarily from its organic Double L vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA — a cool-climate appellation along the western edge of the Salinas Valley.

What foods pair well with Twelve Clones? Herb-roasted chicken complements the bay laurel and dried herb notes; grilled salmon matches the wine's bright acidity and berry fruit; mushroom risotto echoes its earthy, savory undertones; duck confit plays against the cola and spice; and aged Gruyère highlights the subtle oak and sandalwood character.

What sizes does Twelve Clones come in? Morgan Twelve Clones Pinot Noir is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Twelve Clones worth the price? Twelve Clones positions as a premium-value California Pinot Noir, frequently cited among the state's best Pinot Noirs for the money. With consistent 90-plus-point critical scores across multiple vintages, it delivers estate-grown, organically farmed quality that competes with bottles at significantly higher price points.

Why Twelve Clones?

The defining advantage here is clonal diversity. While many California Pinot Noirs rely on two or three popular selections, Morgan draws from over twelve distinct clones planted specifically in Double L's organic soils, creating a blend with unusual depth and complexity for the price. Whole-berry native-yeast fermentation in open-top tanks — punched down by hand — is a labor-intensive technique more commonly associated with small-lot, premium bottlings. Back-to-back 94-point ratings from Wine Enthusiast and a Double Gold from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition confirm that this approach produces measurable results. For anyone serious about California Pinot Noir, Twelve Clones remains one of the most dependable entry points into Santa Lucia Highlands terroir.