WineRegionsOld WorldFranceBordeauxMedoc
St.-Julien
The fame of St.-Julien is disproportionate to its size: of all the Medoc's
classic appellation, St.-Julien has the smallest area under vine. It also,
however, boasts the highest concentration of AOC vineyards, and its chateaux
have discernibly larger estates. They are, for example, 40 per cent larger
that those of Margaux. Significantly St.-Julien has no First Growths, nor
Fifth Growths, although there are years when some of its chateaux produce
wines that are undeniably First Growth quality This is not a commune of
extremes, however, the concentration of its eleven crus classes in the middle
of the Classification is its real strength, enabling St.-Julien to justly
claim that it is the most consistent of Medoc appellation. These
quintessential clarets have a vivid color, elegant fruit, superb balance
and great finesse.
It is perhaps surprising that wine from 16 hectares (39.5 acres) within
this commune is classified as AOC Pauillac, particularly in view of the
perceived difference in style. This illustrates the "gray area"
that exists when communal boundaries overlap the historical borders of great
wine estates, and highlights the existence and importance of blending, even
in a region reputed for its single-vineyard wines. The village of St.-Lambert
was once under the auspices of St.-Julien, and both villages were suffixed
with the name "Reignac." When the barge was the major means of
communication, a substantial traffic existed between St.-Lambert-de-Reignac,
St.-Julien-de-Reignac and the actual village of Reignac-located in Blaye,
on the opposite bank of the Gironde. If the communal borders followed local
history; Chateau Latour would actualy be in St.-Julien.