From trials in Switzerland (1999 to 2005): The inter-specific grape cultivars Cabernet Cortis, Cabernet Carol, Cabernet Carbon, Prior and Monarch, bred by the Research Institute for Viticulture in Freiburg (Germany), have been tested since 1999 on the experimental vineyard of Agroscope RAC Changins at Pully (Lake Geneva region, Switzerland). The five cultivars have shown a high resistance against downy mildew. Their resistance to powdery mildew is as high or higher than that of the reference Vitis vinifera Pinot noir, particularly for the cultivar Cabernet Cortis. Depending on the disease pressure, the use of fungicides can be necessary to produce healthy grapes. Cabernet Carol is highly sensitive to powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot and bunch stem necrosis, and therefore could not be used to make wine. Cabernet Cortis, ripening relatively early, and Cabernet Carbon, ripening late, produced colourful and tannic wines with vegetal characters. Prior and Monarch, ripening slightly later than Pinot noir, also produced polyphenol-rich wines with an interesting fruity character. Overall, Prior shows the best overall qualities.

Wine Character - colour: intense
                      - bouquet: 
                - palate: very herby intense tannic Cabernet style, rich in extract and phenolics

Time of bud-burst: average, with Pinot Noir

Strength of growth: similar to Pinots, upright growing
Growth of side-shoots: below average

Flowering time: before average, 5 to 10 days before Pinot Noir
Flowering strength: high

Leaf: - size:                         - shape: 3 to 5 lobed, reminiscent of Cabernet Sauvignon
        - colour: dark green
        - surface undulation:                - petiolar sinus: 

Grape bunch: - size: large                                                 - density: average
Berries:        - size: average, slightly larger than Pinot Noir        - shape: round
                   - skin colour: 

Bunches close up: average, at same time as Pinot Noir
Time of veraison: before average, 5 to 10 days before Pinot Noir
Time of harvest: average, 5 to 10 days before Pinot Noir

Grape yield: high
Must-weight: high, 6 to 10 °Oeschle above Pinot Noir
Must-acidity: similar to Pinot Noir

Wood ripening: very good
Winter hardiness: good
Wood colour: 

Chlorosis resistance: 
Resistance against - Oidium: high     - Peronospora: very high
                           - Botrytis: very high              - Roter Brenner: 
                           - Phomopsis:                        - Stem-atrophy: average

Preferred soil: 
Suitable rootstocks: 

Normal stem height: 
Normal row spacing: 
Vine spacing in the row: 

Winter Pruning:            eyes/buds per sq. metre of land occupied by the plant.

Advantages: An interesting variety for England. Very high quality wine.

Disadvantages: