Médoc · Saint-Julien appellation · 11 classified growths in 1855
Saint-Julien wines: vintages available, prices and pairings
All the Saint-Julien wines Transvins offers, from second wine to second growth, vintage by vintage: the format, the guide price and what to expect of it today, to drink or to keep. Tick what interests you, and the quote goes out with your selection.
The Saint-Julien wines on offer
From second growths to second wines, in classification order. Filter by budget or by “ready to drink”. Nothing is sent until you click on the quote.
From second wine to second growth
No first growth in Saint-Julien, but the highest proportion of classified growths in the Médoc. The rank tells you the château, the table tells you the price.
Second wines
Connétable de Talbot, Duluc de Branaire-Ducru, Les Fiefs de Lagrange: the younger vines of a classified growth, ready at around three or four years. The Saint-Julien for a wedding meal.
Unclassified
Château Gloria: a vineyard made up of plots from classified growths, never classified itself. Ready at around five years, at the price of a second wine.
Third and fourth growths
Lagrange, Talbot, Branaire-Ducru, Saint-Pierre, Beychevelle: classified growths ready at around eight years, which last twenty-five.
Second growths
Léoville Las Cases, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Léoville Barton, Léoville Poyferré, Gruaud Larose: wines for long ageing, to open after ten years.
What makes a Saint-Julien
The appellation, a little over 900 hectares between Margaux to the south and Pauillac to the north, is the smallest of the Médoc's four great village appellations and the most consistent: three quarters of its vineyard belongs to classified growths. Gravel ridges along the Gironde, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, plus Merlot. The style sits between its two neighbours: more structure than Margaux, more suppleness than Pauillac.
Margaux begins to the south: see Margaux wines.
What to serve it with
- A second growth of fifteen years and more: roast lamb, saddle, leg of lamb (what wine with lamb), game birds (what wine with game).
- A third or fourth growth of eight to fifteen years: fillet or rib of beef (what wine with beef).
- A second wine or Gloria: duck breast (what wine with duck), roast poultry (what wine with poultry), firm pressed cheeses (what wine with cheese).
Which Saint-Julien for which occasion
For a wedding, a second wine or Gloria on every table, and a classified growth for the top table: the which Bordeaux for a wedding page compares the appellations, and second wine of a great château says when that is the right choice. For a birthday, the birth year: the birth-year vintage page says what is still drinking. As a gift, a classified growth in its original wooden case.
How many classified growths does the Saint-Julien appellation have?
Eleven in the 1855 classification: five second growths (the three Léovilles, Gruaud Larose, Ducru-Beaucaillou), two third growths (Lagrange, Langoa Barton) and four fourth growths (Beychevelle, Branaire-Ducru, Saint-Pierre, Talbot). No first growth, no fifth.
Saint-Julien or Saint-Julien-Beychevelle?
The village is called Saint-Julien-Beychevelle; the appellation is called Saint-Julien. It is the same vineyard.
How long should you keep a Saint-Julien?
Three to twelve years for a second wine, five to eighteen for Gloria, eight to twenty-five for a third or fourth growth, ten to thirty-five and more for a second growth. A little longer in a great year, a little less in a weak year or in half-bottles. The table applies this rule to each line; it is not a tasting note.
Is there a white Saint-Julien?
No. The Saint-Julien appellation applies only to red wines. The whites from its châteaux, such as Talbot's Caillou Blanc or Lagrange's Les Arums, are released as appellation Bordeaux.
Are the prices shown the ones in the quote?
They are the guide prices from the price list, incl. VAT, per bottle of the format, delivery excluded. The quote confirms the price, the availability of each vintage and the shipping; the delivery rates give the lead times. For a Saint-Julien or a vintage not in the table, the quote request is still open.