Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux or Côtes de Bordeaux are new appellations granted on 1 November, 2009, specifically to the red wines from the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. The latter is still used, but only for the sweet and liquoreux white wines produced in the area. The vineyards of Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux run along a 60km strip of land which follows the Garonne, on the right bank, from Bordeaux to Langon, upstream.
With plenty of sunshine and clay-limestone or clay-gravel soils, the Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux appellation boasts remarkable natural assets. Well drained by the natural slope, the soils contain fine elements, such as silty-clays in the lower-lying areas, and coarser elements, stones and gravel, as you move up the hillsides. The 3,450 hectares of Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux vineyards permit a production of nearly 180,000 hectolitres of red wines.
The blend is dominated by the Merlot, which gives the wine roundness, fat and a pleasant character, even when young. This grape variety is combined with the Cabernet Sauvignon, which provides spicy flavours and good tannic support, the Cabernet Franc, for its finesse and delicate nose, and the Malbec, in a small proportion, which adds suppleness, lightness and a touch of originality. Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux wines display a dense crimson, nearly black, hue. Naturally fruity, these wines are best enjoyed in their youth. However their tannic structure also allows them to age well. Over time, the Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux wines develop tertiary aromas, including venison, mocha or leather.
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Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux