Cornelie 2021 – Bodegas Salentein.

Pinot Noir Through Three Lenses. A single grape, a single vineyard, and three distinct voices: exploring the soul of Pinot Noir through clones 115, 667 and 777.

There are moments in winemaking when technique and terroir come together so intimately that the result feels more like a conversation than a product. Cornelie, the latest project from Bodegas Salentein, is exactly that: a dialogue between grape, place, and clone. Named in honour of Cornelie Pon-Parlevliet, this trio of single-clone Pinot Noirs is more than a technical exercise—it’s a lyrical exploration of identity, framed by the lens of clonal selection in the high-altitude San Pablo estate.

Each wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir, harvested from different vineyard blocks within the same site. But the defining factor—the lens through which each expression is viewed—is the clone. Vinified under near-identical conditions, Clones 115, 667, and 777 show how deeply subtle shifts in genetic variation can shape personality and expression.

Together, these three wines form one complete voice. A triptych of Pinot Noir, where elegance, structure, and power dance in tandem.

‘The Whisperer’ – Clone 115

Light, floral, and introspective.

We begin with Clone 115, often referred to as the most refined and delicate of the Dijon clones. It’s a wine that speaks in hushed tones—an introverted beauty that rewards the attentive listener.

Tasting Note:

Pale ruby in colour, this wine greets the nose with aromas of violet, crushed raspberry, rose petal, and wet stone. There’s an ethereal quality to its aromatic lift, with forest floor and soft white pepper lingering beneath the surface. The palate is elegant and precise, almost weightless in texture, with flavours of red cherry, dried herbs, and a gentle woodland spice. Its acidity glides effortlessly, guiding the wine to a graceful, floral finish.

Conclusion:

This is the soul of Pinot laid bare: sensitive, subtle, and poetic. Clone 115 invites contemplation rather than conversation—a wine that doesn’t seek to impress, but effortlessly does.

DWA Score: 94/100

‘The Sculptor’ – Clone 667

Structured, savoury, and textural.

If Clone 115 is the quiet soul, Clone 667 is the backbone—the architectural framework of the Cornelie trilogy. It brings tension, savoury complexity, and a brooding undercurrent that roots the tasting experience in the soil from which it comes.

Tasting Note:

Darker in hue and tone, Clone 667 opens with aromas of wild strawberry, redcurrant, chestnut mushroom, and iron-rich earth. There’s a savoury edge—think truffle, clove, and dried leaves—that gives this wine a visceral energy. On the palate, it’s more vertical than wide, with tightly woven tannins, brisk acidity, and a flavour profile that leans toward pomegranate, cherry pit, and crushed rock.

Conclusion:

This is a wine of presence and structure. Where 115 floats, 667 anchors. It is a Pinot that invites food, especially dishes with umami and texture. A brilliant example of how clone selection can build layers within the same varietal expression.

DWA Score: 95/100

‘The Orator’ – Clone 777

Expansive, expressive, and complete.

The trilogy culminates in Clone 777, often considered the most generous and full-bodied of the Dijon Pinot clones. If 115 is the whisper and 667 the sculpture, then 777 is the storyteller—rich in character, layered in meaning, and complete in form.

Tasting Note:

The wine opens with compelling aromatic depth: black cherry, rosehip, baking spice, and graphite, followed by hints of salinity and dried orange peel. There’s a clear sense of altitude here—clarity without dilution. The palate is luxurious yet focused, revealing layers of plum, blood orange, dark berries, and sweet tobacco, all wrapped in a fine mineral lattice. Tannins are satin-like, and the finish echoes for minutes with notes of spice and stony tension.

Conclusion:

Clone 777 delivers the most complete and complex expression in the Cornelie series. It synthesizes finesse and power, fruit and structure, tension and warmth. A wine that speaks with confidence—meant to age, but already beautifully articulate.

DWA Score: 97/100

One Story, Three Perspectives

What makes Cornelie remarkable is not just the technical mastery or the pristine vineyard source. It’s the narrative clarity. By bottling these three clones separately, Salentein gives us a window into the soul of Pinot Noir—a varietal defined by nuance, but here revealed in full voice.

Together, the wines form a progression: from ethereal delicacy (115), to grounded structure (667), to expressive breadth (777). Each one stands confidently alone, but it is in the context of the trio that they truly shine—offering wine lovers, collectors, and Pinot purists an unprecedented look into how identity, site, and clone intertwine.

This is not just a tasting—it’s a journey.

We also wrote an in-depth article on the launch of Cornelie at Landgoed de Salentein. Click here to read it.

This review is written by our own Niels Aarts. We enjoyed the Cornelie selection during the launch in the Netherlands. Bodegas Salentein is imported and distributed in the Netherlands by Verbunt Verlinden.

Price:               ~€349,00 (boxed set of 3)

Taste Date:     May 2025 

Score:              94-97/100 DWA Score  

Website:         Bodegas Salentein