Château Moulin du Cadet
sha-TOH moo-LAN dü ka-DAY
A tiny biodynamic gem on the Cadet plateau, crafting pure Merlot with a gold-medal pedigree stretching back to 1867.
Château Moulin du Cadet is a 2.85-hectare Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé producing 100% Merlot from clayey limestone soils. The estate earned a gold medal at the 1867 Paris Universal Exposition and later became one of Saint-Émilion's early converts to biodynamic farming. The Lefevere family has owned and managed the property since 2015.
- Classification: Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé (2006 classification)
- Size: 2.85 hectares (7.04 acres) on the Cadet plateau north of Saint-Émilion
- Grape variety: 100% Merlot
- Soils: Clayey limestone
- Gold medal winner at the 1867 Paris Universal Exposition
- Converted to organic farming in 2002 and biodynamic farming in 2005 under Alain Moueix
- Current owner: Lefevere family (since 2015); consultant Jean-Luc Thunevin
History and Ownership
The vineyards of Château Moulin du Cadet date back to at least the mid-1860s, and the estate made an early mark on the international stage by winning a gold medal at the 1867 Paris Universal Exposition. Jean-Pierre Moueix acquired the property in 1989 and undertook a complete renovation of the estate and its cellars in 1991. His son Alain Moueix assumed management in 2001, steering the estate toward a pioneering environmental program. The Lefevere family purchased the château in 2015, with Marie-Bénédicte Lefevere taking on the role of current manager and retaining renowned consultant Jean-Luc Thunevin to guide winemaking.
- Vineyards documented from at least the mid-1860s
- Gold medal at the 1867 Paris Universal Exposition
- Acquired by Jean-Pierre Moueix in 1989; cellar renovation completed in 1991
- Sold to the Lefevere family in 2015
Terroir and Viticulture
Moulin du Cadet sits on the Cadet plateau north of the town of Saint-Émilion, one of the appellation's most coveted elevated positions. At just 2.85 hectares, the estate is among the smaller classified properties in the appellation. The soils are clayey limestone, a combination that retains moisture while providing excellent drainage through the underlying rock, delivering the structured yet supple character that defines the wine. Alain Moueix converted the estate to organic farming in 2002 and to biodynamic practices in 2005, making Moulin du Cadet one of the early biodynamic producers in Saint-Émilion.
- Located on the Cadet plateau, north of Saint-Émilion town
- Clayey limestone soils support structured, elegant Merlot
- Certified organic from 2002, biodynamic from 2005
- One of Saint-Émilion's earliest adopters of biodynamic viticulture
Winemaking and Style
The estate produces a single red wine from 100% Merlot, a variety exceptionally well suited to the clay-limestone terroir of the Cadet plateau. The wine is known for its full body, dark fruit character, and fine-grained tannins, with spice notes adding complexity. The commitment to biodynamic farming and the small vineyard size allow for meticulous attention to each vine, contributing to the wine's consistent quality and expressive terroir character. Jean-Luc Thunevin's consultancy brings additional expertise in crafting precise, terroir-driven Saint-Émilion.
- 100% Merlot; no blending varieties planted
- Full-bodied style with dark fruit, spice, and fine-grained tannins
- Biodynamic farming informs both viticulture and cellar philosophy
- Jean-Luc Thunevin serves as winemaking consultant
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Look it up →Classification
Château Moulin du Cadet holds the status of Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé under the 2006 classification, placing it within the broader tier of classified estates in an appellation that undergoes periodic reclassification. The Grand Cru Classé designation recognizes consistent quality and typicity, and Moulin du Cadet's small scale, distinguished terroir position, and biodynamic credentials reinforce its standing within this category.
- Classified as Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé under the 2006 classification
- Saint-Émilion classifications are periodically reviewed, unlike the fixed 1855 Médoc classification
- Grand Cru Classé sits above the basic Grand Cru tier but below Premier Grand Cru Classé
Full-bodied Merlot showing dark plum, blackberry, and cherry fruit with notes of warm spice, earth, and subtle minerality from the clay-limestone soils. Fine-grained tannins and a structured yet elegant finish are hallmarks of the Cadet plateau terroir.
- Château Moulin du Cadet Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé$50-80The estate's single wine; 100% biodynamic Merlot from the clay-limestone Cadet plateau with fine-grained tannins.Find →
- Château Fonroque Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé$45-70Another biodynamic Grand Cru Classé on Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau, offering a comparable terroir-driven style.Find →
- Château Canon Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé$90-130Premier Grand Cru Classé neighbor sharing clay-limestone soils; a quality reference point for the northern plateau.Find →
- Moulin du Cadet is a 2.85-hectare Grand Cru Classé estate on the Cadet plateau north of Saint-Émilion town, planted entirely to Merlot on clayey limestone soils
- The estate won a gold medal at the 1867 Paris Universal Exposition, evidencing its long quality history
- Jean-Pierre Moueix acquired the property in 1989; his son Alain converted it to organic farming in 2002 and biodynamic farming in 2005
- The Lefevere family purchased the estate in 2015; current manager is Marie-Bénédicte Lefevere with Jean-Luc Thunevin as consultant
- Saint-Émilion's classification system is periodically reviewed; Moulin du Cadet holds its Grand Cru Classé status under the 2006 classification