(© CIVB/Regine Rosenthal)
Cadillac is a village just south of Bordeaux, south-western France, known for its sweet, botrytized white wines. It is situated on the north bank of the Garonne river, just north of Loupiac and opposite Cerons, two other sweet-wine specialists.
The area's high potential for the production of botrytized wines is due in no small part to the various rivers and streams located nearby. Morning mists rise up off these on cool mornings in late summer and early fall, and encourage the development of the Botrytis cinerea fungus (informally known as 'noble rot'). The presence of particularly chalky and gravelly soils marks it out as a separate area, capable of producing wines of distinctive character.
The sweet wines produced from Cadillac's botrytized grapes are naturally high in flavor and concentrated sugars, and have long been regarded among Bordeaux' better sweet wines. Although they have never quite reached the lofty status of Sauternes, just across the river, the wines' quality 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 produced in Cadillac were traditionally sold under the now-defunct Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux appellation but since 2009 have been sold as Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac.
