Cabernet Sauvignon

The bud displays an expanded apex and evident pinkish shades. The average-sized, pentagon-shaped, five-lobed leaves have a closed petiolar sinus and overlapping edges and are almost hairless. The medium-small cylindrical cluster is quite compact and it has often an evident wing. The medium-sized and round berries have thick skin, slightly fleshy pulp with a light herbaceous flavour.

moderately vigorous vine variety. The shoots have an upright growth habit and medium short internodes. It adapts well to warm climates, or to dry and well-ventilated ones; in northern areas it privileges exposed hillside soils and rocky or argillaceous soils in well drained lowlands. Terrains that tend to be fertile and humid, as well as climates with insufficient Growing Degree-Days, are not recommended, as they would cause a poor lignification.

suitable to different forms of cultivation and pruning, provided they are short and suitable to the environment they are grown in. In northern areas it needs medium-long pruning, whereas in central and southern areas it can be pruned medium to short. Green pruning is crucial to ensure the correct balance between vegetative growth and grape production.

susceptible to trunk diseases (Esca disease, Eutypa dieback) and to rachis desiccation, especially when grafted on SO4. For this reason, it is necessary to check the balance between K/Mg in the soil. Some French clones are incompatible with 3309C.

it gives intense ruby-red colour wines, sometimes tending to a violet hue. Full-bodied, aromatic, with a high alcohol content and a characteristic light herbaceous flavour. Improves considerably with age. Its organoleptic characteristics are enhanced when vinified with other wines. The best wines come from vines grown in gravelly, well-draining with good exposure terrains or from those cultivated in slightly clayey-calcareous soils on the hills.

Cabernet Sauvignon R5, VCR7, VCR8, VCR11, VCR13, VCR19, VCR489, VCR500, ISV2, ISV105, ISV117, ISVFV5, ISVFV6; French clones: Inra-Entav 15, 169, 338, 685.