Saint-Julien AOC
The Saint -Julien is one of the most famous red wines of the Bordeaux wine-growing region.
The vineyards
The area of the Controlled Appellation includes appropriate to the quality vineyard sites of the town of Saint -Julien- Beychevelle in the Médoc. It is located about 10 km north of Margaux on the Gironde and bordered to the north directly to Pauillac. With an area of 3.5 to 4 kms has approximately square shape. The cultivated area is 910 ha
The wine
The Saint -Julien is a powerful and complex red wine. In his youth he acts because of its high Tanningehaltes often severe, only a longer maturation period of at least 5 years in the cellar brings him to develop. His character represents a synthesis between the force of Pauillac and finesse of Margaux
75 % of the cultivated area is used for eleven Grands Crus Classé. Your share is higher than in all other communal appellations of the Medoc. This fact gives the Saint -Julien its qualitative homogeneity. The most famous Châteaux are:
- Château Beychevelle
- Château Ducru - Branaire
- Château Ducru - Beaucaillou
- Château Gruaud - Larose
- Château Lagrange
- Château Langoa - Barton
- Chateau Leoville -las- Cases
- Chateau Leoville - Poyferré
- Chateau Leoville - Barton
- Château Saint -Pierre
- Château Talbot
Soil and climate
The quality viticulture is limited to the gravel sandy soils formed in the Ice Age. The Gironde closest locations with their large pebbles are best suited for the Cabernet Sauvignon. To the west of the municipality of the soil is sandy, he meets the Merlot. From south to north it is loamy soil, which gives more body to the wines.
The climate is strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, with warm summers and mild winters and humid. About the quality of a vintage usually decide the autumn. At full maturity, the grapes need a sunny weather until well into October. The proximity of the Gironde has a balancing effect on the microclimate. Protects you from late frosts, but also alleviates the summer's heat.
Grape varieties and winemaking
In Rebsatz dominated by the Cabernet Sauvignon. Its proportion is in the Classified Growth usually 65 to 70 %. In order to account for 20% Merlot, the rest is produced by the varieties Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The yields are between 45 and 55 hl / ha.
The vinification follows the classic model of Bordeaux: Two to three weeks prior time on the skins, then 18-24 months in oak barrels, drums with 225 liters of oak, which are mostly renewed in half. In the Grand Vin is only the wine from the best and the style of Château matching games. The rest, as well as the earnings of young vines, is bottled by the château as a Second Vin, as a second wine.