|
Cadillac is a village in the south of the Bordeaux region of south-western France. It is situated on the north bank of the Garonne river, opposite Cerons and just north of Loupiac. Because of its location, Cadillac is an obvious candidate to be part of the large Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux appellation. However, the presence of particularly chalky and gravelly soils marks it out as a separate area, capable of producing wines of distinctive character.
The various rivers and streams located near Cadillac provide it with an overall terroir that is ideally suited to the production of sweet, botrytized wines. In the late summer and early fall these rivers create morning mists, which encourage the development of Botrytis cinerea – the fungus referred to less formally as 'noble rot'. The sweet wines produced from Cadillac's botrytized grapes are naturally high in flavor and concentrated sugars, and have earned the village a reputation as a source of excellent sweet wines. This was formally recognized in 1973, with the creation of the Cadillac appellation.
Cadillac's sweet or medium-sweet white wines are made from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes harvested at optimal sweetness. Under appellation law, the must is required to contain 255g/L of natural sugar, which translates to high residual sugar levels and minimum alcohol levels of 12% in the finished wines.
Red wines from Cadillac come under the Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac appellation, although until 2009 they were included in the Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux title.
| 
