Region	Saint-Julien Small village in the middle of the Médoc and the smallest of the four appellations communales of the Médoc. St. Julien has no Premiers Grands Crus Classés, nor Cinquièmes Grands Crus Classés. If the communal borders of the Médoc followed local history however, Château Latour, one of the Premiers Grands Crus Classés, would today be in St.-Julien. This commune could claim that it is the most quality consistent of the four classic Médoc appellations communales. Here the importance of gravel is again proved. St.-Julien lies on a ridge of thick gravel. -Only wines from the good terrains of St.-Julien-Beychevelle and some specially selected parcels of Cussac and St.-Laurent. Only when these parcels are kept integrated in the current vineyards that they belong to. -Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Carmenère -Production: max. 40 hl. per ha.		The grape varieties The châteaux The gravel mounds that are so typical for the Médoc dominate the soil. These mounds afford excellent drainage of water and are loose and airy. Because of their infertility the gravel mounds encourage the vines to send their roots down deep in search of nutrients. These gravel mounds rest on (starfish) limestone (Calcaire à astéries) plateaux. St.-Julien is dominated by a thick ridge of fine good sized gravel. Especially near the river. St.-Julien has a maritime climate, caused by the Atlantic. The warm Gulf Stream and the Gironde act as a heat-regulator and moderate the climate. This gives the region mild winters, warm summers, and long, sunny autumns. The region is protected from sea winds by the coastal strip of pine forest which runs almost parallel to the region. Much to the concern of the vignerons however, harvest time and the rainy season arrive about the same time. If the rains come early all grapes will not be fully ripened. If the rains come during harvest, the grapes can lose concentration. The record keepers have observed that in any ten-year span there will be, from a climate point of view, three great years, three poor years, and four that are mediocre. Sometimes the normally mild region is rudely reminded of its northern latitude. In February 1956 a hard frost occurred with temperatures below -18 C (0F). There is also the lingering concern that the Saint de Glace may visit the budding vines in the first weeks of May. Like in 1991.