Narrative
Type = American Hybrid. Per T.V. Munson (see citation): "Vine very vigorous and free from all disease, prolific, leaves large, leathery, with tufts of brown wool on under side, clusters large, compact and somewhat compounded for this species, with long peduncle; berries small, globular, black, perisistent, skin thin, tough, never cracks; pulp not very juicy, of pure vinous sprightly flavor, seeds small, juice claret-red, blooms and ripens late, some two weeks after Concord." Per Bush and Son and Meissner (see citation): "Berry below medium, round, black with blue bloom, sweet, spicy, moderately juicy. Juice dark red; weighs very heavy on the must scale, even higher than Norton's Virginia, and, so far, makes our best red wine. It has as much body as Norton's, is of exquisite flavor, and can safely enter the lists with Burgundy wines . . . Vine vigorous and healthy, free from rot, productive, and as sure here in its crops of well ripened fruit as any variety we know, but very difficult to propagate, as its wood is very hard, with a small pith and closely adhering outer bark. The fruit ripens some few days earlier than Norton's." Per U.P. Hedrick (see citation): "Vine vigorous, hardy, usually a good yielder. Leaves variable in size, thick, firm. Fruit ripens very late and keeps well. Berries small, roundish, black, covered with a moderate amount of blue bloom, persistent, firm. Skin thin, tough, rather adherent to the pulp, contains a slight amount of purple pigment, astringent. Flesh darkish green, translucent, juicy, tough and solid, spicy, rather tart, poor in quality as a dessert grape."