Couderc noir

Contassot had plantings of Munson and when he observed the characteristics of this new vine, he gave the seeds to grape breeders Georges Couderc and Albert Seibel who began working with the variety.

Its productiveness and disease resistance kept it in favor well into the 20th century even after advances in phylloxera-resistant rootstock grafting allowed traditional French vinifera to return in full force.

[2] In fact, it wasn't until the 1970s that years of vine pulling schemes by the French government reduced Couderc noir's numbers enough to allow Cabernet Sauvignon to surpass the hybrid in total plantings.

The main viticultural hazard for the variety is its susceptibility to developing chlorosis which can inhibit chlorophyll production in the leaves and adversely impact photosynthesis.

[2] Like many French-American hybrids, Couderc noir has a distinctive foxy non-Vinifera flavor that Master of Wine Jancis Robinson notes can be "off-putting" to those more familiar with vinifera grapes.