Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux
カディヤック・コート・ド・ボルドー
Merlot-led right-bank Bordeaux reds; value-driven, fruit-forward and river-cooled
About Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux
- Producers listed
- 8
Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux is a red-wine-only AOC situated along the right bank of the Garonne River in the Entre-Deux-Mers zone, southeast of Bordeaux. Stretching 60 km long and 5 km wide across 39 communes, its clay-limestone slopes and gravelly rises overlook the Garonne and benefit from excellent sun exposure. Until 2009 the zone's red wines were labelled Premières Côtes de Bordeaux; that vintage the broader Côtes de Bordeaux reform renamed them Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux while reserving the Cadillac AOC name for sweet whites. The blend is led by Merlot (~55%), backed by Cabernet Sauvignon (~25%), Cabernet Franc (~15%), and small amounts of Malbec. The result is generous, fruit-forward reds marked by aromas of cherry, plum, blackcurrant, and hints of graphite and liquorice — wines that drink well young but can also age gracefully thanks to Cabernet Sauvignon's firm tannin structure.
Best for
Approachable everyday Bordeaux reds with genuine terroir character at an accessible price
Food Pairings
Grilled and roasted red meats (lamb, beef), poultry dishes, mushroom-based pastas and risottos, root vegetable gratins, semi-hard cheeses, and dark-chocolate desserts
Producers
シャトー・カルサン
Château Carsin
Château Carsin is a pioneering organic and biodynamic estate located in Rions, overlooking the Garonne River in the Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. Founded in 1990 by Finnish entrepreneur Juha Berglund, who purchased the property with virtually no winemaking experience, the estate has since transformed into one of the region's most celebrated sustainable producers. For a decade, Australian winemaker Mandy Jones introduced New World techniques before a radical philosophical shift in the 2000s toward organic and biodynamic farming. Since 2016, Nea Berglund — born in 1990, the same year the family acquired the château — has served as CEO and winemaker, achieving full Agriculture Biologique certification in 2022. The 20-hectare vineyard is 100% biodynamic and produces an unusually diverse range including the flagship six-grape Cuvée Noire (Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Carménère), three dry whites (Blanc de Carsin, Sauvignon de Carsin, L'Etiquette Grise), a rosé, and a rare sweet Cadillac. Decanter awarded 91 points to Cuvée Noire 2016, and Jane Anson has cited Château Carsin as one of the estates to watch in the appellation.
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carsin.comシャトー・ファヨ
Château Fayau
Château Fayau is the historic heart of the Médeville family estate, located in the centre of Cadillac, approximately 30 km southeast of Bordeaux. Viticultural activity at the site dates back to 1711, and the Médeville family has owned the property since 1826. Today, seventh-generation brothers Jean and Marc Médeville oversee 41 hectares of clay-siliceous soils that produce a diverse portfolio of wines: structured Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux reds, dry whites, rosé, clairet, and the estate's celebrated botrytized sweet wines under the Cadillac appellation—including the exceptional Grains Nobles cuvée made from hand-harvested, individually selected noble-rot grapes. The flagship red, Cuvée Jean Médeville (created 1993 in tribute to the brothers' grandfather), blends 60% Merlot with 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. Château Fayau is part of the Médeville family's 180-hectare portfolio spanning multiple Bordeaux appellations.
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medeville.comシャトー・ラガロス
Château Lagarosse
Château Lagarosse is a historic estate dating from the early 16th century, situated in the picturesque village of Tabanac about 30 minutes from Bordeaux in the heart of the Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. The property covers over 30 hectares of south-facing slopes with clay-limestone and gravel soils. Acquired in 2011 under the leadership of chairman Steve Loo, the château has been revitalised with state-of-the-art winemaking facilities while retaining respect for tradition. Wines are crafted with guidance from world-renowned consultant Michel Rolland and aged in French oak barrels made from old-growth Tronçais forest oak. The estate produces exclusively red wines—blending Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon—under labels including the flagship Château Lagarosse, Les Comtes, Prestige, and Douley. A member of the Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux syndicat, Château Lagarosse is also gaining international recognition as its parent company, Lagarosse Holdings, has filed for a listing on the US stock exchange (Nasdaq/NYSE).
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lagarosse.frシャトー・ラモット・ド・オー
Château Lamothe de Haux
Located in the commune of Haux, southwest of Bordeaux, Château Lamothe de Haux has crafted estate-bottled wines since the 16th century. The Néel-Chombart family has managed the estate since 1956, with the tradition passed from mother to daughter through four generations — first the Perriquets, then the Néels, now the Chombarts. Spanning approximately 80 hectares of clay-limestone slopes, the estate produces around 400,000 bottles annually. Medieval troglodyte quarries carved from limestone serve as natural cellars, providing ideal temperature and humidity for maturation. The white wine stands out with an unusually high 20% Muscadelle component (alongside 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Sémillon), delivering an intensely aromatic and floral character. Red wines blend 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc, with both a stainless-steel-aged Cuvée Traditionnelle and a barrel-aged Première Cuvée. The estate also produces sweet Cadillac Blanc Liquoreux and an innovative Zeste Orange Sémillon, all under a firm commitment to sustainable viticulture.
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chateau-lamothe.comシャトー・ランゴワラン
Château Langoiran
Château Langoiran is a 23-hectare estate nestled within the ramparts of Langoiran's 13th-century medieval fortress, perched on a hilltop overlooking the Garonne Valley in the Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. Owned and operated by the Gonfrier family—winemakers since 1830 who today manage over 1,400 hectares across the Garonne region—the château blends historic grandeur with modern environmental commitment. Nineteen of its 23 hectares are dedicated to three distinct red wine cuvées in the Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation; the estate also produces rosé and dry white wines under the Bordeaux appellation, and a small quantity of sweet white wine under the Cadillac appellation. Wines are aged in French oak barrels in a remarkable 17th-century underground cellar carved from limestone beneath the medieval castle—formerly a limestone quarry—which provides ideal natural temperature and humidity for slow, elegant maturation. The estate holds HVE3 (High Environmental Value), Terra Vitis, and Organic (AB) certifications, underscoring the family's commitment to sustainable viticulture. Wine Enthusiast awarded the 2021 Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux 92 points.
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www.vignobles-gonfrier.frシャトー・スオー（カディヤック）
Château Suau (Cadillac)
Château Suau (Cadillac) is a historic and fully certified organic estate perched at the highest point of the Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation at 100 metres altitude, south of the village of Capian. The property's origins trace back to the 16th century when it served as a hunting lodge for Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, Duke of Épernon. Officially named in 1637 after the Suau family who restored it, the estate passed to the Bonnet de Mazamet family in 1986. In 2014, Argentinian wine entrepreneur Alejandro Bulgheroni became the majority shareholder, while the Bonnet family retains a minority stake. The 66-hectare contiguous vineyard benefits from clay-gravel soils and superior elevation for natural ventilation, reducing disease pressure. Organic conversion began in 2008 and all production has been Ecocert-certified organic since 2014. The estate's flagship red L'Artolie (65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc) is aged 15 months in French oak barrels and showcases concentrated black fruit, toasty notes, and a dense, rich palate with elegant tannins. The estate also produces a classic Château Suau red, a dry white Bordeaux, a rosé, and a rare sweet Cadillac blanc (60% Sémillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc) with honey, apricot, and pear notes. Note: this estate is entirely distinct from Château Suau in Barsac, a 2nd Growth Sauternes producer.
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chateausuau.comシャトー・タネス
Château Tanesse
Château Tanesse is a 30-hectare estate situated on clay-limestone slopes overlooking the Garonne River in Lestiac-sur-Garonne, Gironde, within the Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. Owned by Vignobles Gonfrier — a family wine business founded in 1962 by Paul and Marie-José Gonfrier, who left Algeria to establish their estate in this historic part of Bordeaux — Château Tanesse was acquired by the family in 2004 under the direction of Eric Gonfrier. The estate is certified HVE3 (Haute Valeur Environnementale level 3) and holds CSR certification from Ecovadis, reflecting its rigorous commitment to sustainable viticulture. Controlled cover-cropping, mechanical soil work, and manual green pruning ensure homogeneous grape distribution and optimal aeration. The flagship red blends 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc, producing a richly aromatic wine of dark fruits, black cherry, cassis, and wood spice, with silky tannins and accessible character. The estate also produces a Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux Blanc Liquoreux dessert wine.
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www.vignobles-gonfrier.frシャトー・ド・オー
Château de Haux
Château de Haux is a remarkable Bordeaux estate with a uniquely Danish soul, located in the commune of Haux approximately 20 kilometres southeast of Bordeaux city in the heart of the Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. The property's story begins in 1903 when Knud Jørgensen established a wine merchant business in Copenhagen, a family tradition passed through five generations. In 1985, brothers Peter and Flemming Jørgensen purchased the château — then comprising 21 hectares — with their personal savings, and established Franske Vingårde, a joint-stock company offering shares to wine enthusiasts across Scandinavia. Today the company boasts over 10,000 shareholders, owns and manages a total of 75 hectares across multiple vineyards, and produces approximately 560,000 bottles annually of Rouge, Blanc, Clairet, and Rosé. The estate's flagship Réserve des Propriétaires is produced from the finest grapes of the best parcels: the red showcases concentrated dark berry fruit with well-structured tannins and aging potential, while the white offers fresh peach, green apple, and elderflower aromas. Renowned consulting winemaker Stéphane Apelbaum has been involved in managing the estate's winemaking operations, bringing professional expertise to this Scandinavian-owned Bordeaux venture.
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haux.com
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux a red or white wine?
- It is exclusively red. The 2009 AOC reform split the former Premières Côtes de Bordeaux: red wines became Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux, while the Cadillac AOC name was reserved for sweet white (botrytised) wines.
- What grape varieties are used?
- Merlot dominates at roughly 55%, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (~25%), Cabernet Franc (~15%), and Malbec (~5%). Small amounts of Petit Verdot and Carménère are also permitted.
- When should I drink these wines?
- They are enjoyable young (2–5 years) thanks to Merlot's ripe fruit, but the Cabernet Sauvignon structure allows top cuvées to age well for 8–10+ years. Serve at 15–17 °C.
- How does Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux differ from other Côtes de Bordeaux?
- It sits on the right bank of the Garonne south of Bordeaux, occupying warmer, clay-heavy soils that give the wines a rounder, plushier texture compared to the sandier Blaye Côtes or the limestone-dominant Castillon Côtes.
- Are these wines good value?
- Yes. With 230 independent growers and one cooperative across 2,200 ha of prime riverside terroir, the appellation produces quality-driven reds at accessible prices, often compared favourably to entry-level Saint-Émilion.