Saint-Julien

The existence of the parish of Saint-Julien goes back to the 7th century for some authors, for others to the 13th century. It was part of the archpriesthood of Moulis.

Known under the name of Saint-Julien-de-Reignac, it is during the first half of the XXth century that this commune took the name of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, thus associating the name of the small port and hamlet which contributed, by its activity, to its wine fame. During the 17th century, some aristocrats and wise owners discovered the exceptional viticultural qualities of this terroir.

This commune, practically in the center of the Haut-Médoc, is separated from Cussac to the south by a marshy area due to the presence of two streams coming from the Saint-Laurent region: the Beychevelle marshes, which are followed by the pretty gravelly hilltop of Beychevelle, and then to the northwest, the hilltop of Saint-Julien. To the north, it is separated from Pauillac by the Juillac stream.

Apart from the marshy area in the south, made up of modern alluvium, and the land to the east, along the river, devoted to meadows and livestock, what distinguishes Saint-Julien is the great homogeneity of its wine-growing area located in the center of the commune.

This part forms a rectangle about 5 km long and 3.5 km wide. It is composed of gravelly hillsides from the ancient quaternary period. To the west, these gravels become more and more siliceous as one approaches the forest.

The subsoil is made up of clay or peat in the marshy parts, marl at various points and alios or gravel, sometimes even very large stones, in the gravelly part.

Thus, due to its topography and pedology, the terroir of Saint-Julien is very well drained and perfectly suited to vine growing.