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: red, intense
                      - bouquet: 
                      - palate: Pinot type, fruity, rich in extract and polyphenols

Time of bud-burst: earlier than average

Strength of growth: medium
Growth of side-shoots: below average

Flowering time: average
Flowering strength: average

Leaf: - size:                 - shape: 
        - colour: 
        - surface undulation:                  - petiolar sinus: 

Grape bunch: - size: large                   - density: 
Berries:        - size: medium-large        - shape: 
                   - skin colour: 

Time of veraison: average
Time of harvest: shortly before Pinot noir

Grape yield: 
Must-weight: 
Must-acidity: 

Wood ripening: 
Winter hardiness: 
Wood colour: 

Chlorosis resistance: 
resistance against to - Oidium: average          - Peronospora: high
                       - Botrytis:                            - 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: 

Disadvantages: 

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