Château Moulin du Cadet
Updated on
Château Moulin du Cadet, a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé, is owned by Michèle and Guy Richard. It produces certified organic red wines from a clay-limestone terroir, dominated by Merlot.
Identity
Château Moulin du Cadet is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Émilion, in the Gironde department. It has been owned by Michèle and Guy Richard since 2001. Management is handled by Isabelle Blois-Moueix, alongside technical director Alain Moueix. Stéphane Derenoncourt and Frédéric Massie also serve as consultant oenologists. The estate is sometimes referred to under the names Château Vieux Moulin du Cadet or Château Cadet-Bon. The estate is situated on the Cadet hill, close to the medieval town of Saint-Émilion.
History and philosophy
The winemaking history of this site dates back to Gallo-Roman times. The estate's name is associated with the ruins of a 15th-century mill. Château Moulin du Cadet was awarded a Gold Medal at the 1867 Paris Universal Exposition. In 1989, Jean-Pierre Moueix acquired the entire estate. Michèle and Guy Richard became the owners in 2001. In 2002, temperature-controlled vats were installed. The estate began its conversion to organic farming in 2017, achieving certification in 2021. A soil study of the vineyard was carried out in 2005 by Claude Bourguignon. The château, cellar, and living quarters were renovated in 2004.
The appellations
Château Moulin du Cadet produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation. The estate is classified as a Grand Cru Classé in the official Saint-Émilion classification.
Practical information
Château Moulin du Cadet is located at 4 lieu-dit LE CADET, 33330 Saint-Émilion. The estate can be reached by phone at +33 (0)5 57 24 71 88 / 09 60 12 95 17 or by email at chateau.cadet.bon@orange.fr. The tasting room and cellar door are open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00. The estate offers tours and tastings throughout the year. Several options are available, including a simple wine tasting, a tour followed by a tasting, a comparative tasting, or a Prestige tasting—all lasting 1 hour for groups of 2 to 10 people. Spoken languages are English and French. The estate features visitor parking, accessible facilities, and can host groups. Pets are welcome, and cellar-door sales are available. Accepted payment methods are debit/credit card and cash.
Find out more
Frequently asked questions
- What makes the terroir of Château Moulin du Cadet unique?
- The terroir of Château Moulin du Cadet is predominantly clay-limestone, situated on the Saint-Émilion plateau. It benefits from full southern exposure on a gentle slope and features shallow soils over limestone, deep soils over limestone, and soils over clay. This soil diversity contributes to the complexity of the estate's wines, spanning 6 hectares of planted vineyards with vines averaging 40 years of age.
- What is the history of the property and its recent developments?
- The winemaking history of Château Moulin du Cadet dates back to Gallo-Roman times, taking its name from a 15th-century mill. The estate won a Gold Medal at the 1867 Paris Universal Exposition. Acquired in 1989 by Jean-Pierre Moueix, it has been owned by Michèle and Guy Richard since 2001. Major renovations were completed in 2004 for the château, cellar, and living quarters. The estate also began its conversion to organic farming in 2017, earning official certification in 2021.
- Which grape varieties are used to produce Château Moulin du Cadet wines?
- The grape varieties at Château Moulin du Cadet are led by Merlot, which makes up 80% of the vineyard, complemented by 20% Cabernet Franc. This classic Saint-Émilion blend produces expressive, characterful red wines. The estate's main cuvée is Château Moulin Du Cadet, alongside a second wine called Cadet Fontpierre.
- What tour and tasting options are offered at Château Moulin du Cadet?
- Château Moulin du Cadet offers various tour and tasting experiences year-round, from Monday to Friday. Visitors can choose from a simple tasting, a guided tour followed by a tasting, a comparative tasting, or a Prestige tasting. Each experience lasts approximately 1 hour and accommodates 2 to 10 guests. The property features parking, accessible facilities, and welcomes both groups and pets. Cellar-door bottle purchases are available, payable by card or cash.
The vineyard (terroir)
The Château Moulin du Cadet vineyard covers a planted area of 6 hectares (7 hectares in total), with full southern exposure on a gentle slope. The average age of the vines is 40 years. The terroir consists of clay-limestone soils. More specifically, it features shallow soils over limestone, deep soils over limestone, and soils over high-surface-area clay. The grape varieties are predominantly Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Franc (20%).
Flagship cuvées
The estate's principal cuvée is Château Moulin Du Cadet, a red wine. This blend, whose proportions may vary (for example, 100% Merlot for the 2003 vintage, or 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet for other vintages), is renowned for its character. The estate also produces a second wine, Cadet Fontpierre.
Vinification and ageing
Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand. Vinification takes place in stainless steel vats. Ageing of the grand vin lasts two years, including maturation in oak barrels, with 30% new oak and 70% one-wine barrels or older.
- Appellations
- Saint-Émilion, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
- Commune
- Saint-Émilion
- Wine region
- Libournais
- Classification
- Grand Cru Classé (2022)
- Owner
- Guy Richard
- Technical direction
- Alain Moueix
- Surface area
- 7 ha
- Second wine
- Cadet Fontpierre
- Certifications
- Bio
- Grape varieties
- Merlot 80%, Cabernet Franc 20%
Practical information
- Address
- 4 lieu-dit LE CADET, 33330 SAINT EMILION
- Phone
- 09 60 12 95 17
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Opening hours
- Lundi, Mardi, Mercredi, Jeudi, Vendredi de 08:30 à 12:00 et de 13:00 à 17:00
- Visits
- Visite de la propriété suivie d'une dégustation de nos vins, toute l’année.