The so-called “massal selection” is a traditional selection process used by previous generations to replace missing vines or plant new plots before clone selection became common practice. Cuttings from old vines on the estate deemed to be of superior quality are selected and propagated.
Nowadays, supervised massal selection is carried out in collaboration with vine nurseries in order to multiply specific vines in large numbers. In particular, it is possible to use plants from old plots that will soon be uprooted. It should be noted that some nurseries also provide vine options from their own massal selection.
Massal selection considerably increases genetic diversity of grape varieties which is important given the challenges posed by disease and climate change, as some vines may be more susceptible than others. Crucially, this technique also preserves the uniqueness of old vineyards.
Massal selections have been carried out at Château Latour and Clos de Tart.
Clonal selection corresponds to a catalogue of approved clones selected for their agronomic and organoleptic properties, which have been isolated by vine nurseries and used over several decades. These are so-called conventional plants. The approved clones are a good option when setting up a new vineyard or simply to reduce costs. From a purely qualitative point of view, clones are very efficient.
Whatever decision is made, the choice made will not be right or wrong, the decision is made for human or logistical reasons.
For example, Viogner only has a few approved clone types and up until 2002 there was only one approved clone choice.
A massal selection from Condrieu is used at Château Grillet.