St Julien - Bordeaux

Saint-Julien (Bordeaux): Elegance, Power & Consistency in Red Wine

Nestled between the famed appellations of Pauillac to the north and Margaux to the south on Bordeaux’s Left Bank, Saint-Julien AOC is one of the Médoc’s most admired wine growing regions. Though relatively small — covering about 910 hectares of vines — it boasts one of the highest concentrations of Grand Cru Classé estates in Bordeaux.

What Makes Saint-Julien Special

• Terroir and Climate: The region’s soils are predominantly deep gravel over clay and limestone, offering excellent drainage and ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon. The proximity to the Gironde estuary tempers extremes of climate, allowing the grapes to ripen fully while retaining elegance.

• Grape Varieties & Blends: Cabernet Sauvignon dominates, supported by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and in rare instances, Malbec. The blends balance structure, depth, and finesse.
• Style & Aged Potential: Saint-Julien wines are celebrated for their harmony — combining the power and tannin structure reminiscent of Pauillac with the perfumed grace often found near Margaux. Expect rich dark-fruit flavours (blackcurrant, blackberry, plum), cedar, tobacco, licorice among the aromatic notes, along with firm but refined tannins. These are wines built to age gracefully.

Notable Estates & Classification

While there are no Premier Cru (First Growth) estates in Saint-Julien, the appellation is home to 11 classified Growths under the 1855 classification system — including several Second Growths and other highly rated châteaux, such as Léoville Las Cases, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Gruaud-Larose, Lagrange, Léoville Barton, Léoville Poyferré and Talbot.