The 4th growth Château Beychevelle sits on the main road in St. Julien, its vineyards stretching north towards Ducru-Beaucaillou. the château at the beginning of the 17th century… The first Duke of Épernon has just become its owner. The reputation of this great French admiral was such that as boats passed in front of his estate, they would lower their sails to show their allegiance. This deep mark of respect gave rise to the château’s emblem, a ship with a griffon-shaped prow; its name in Gascon, Bêcha vêla, meaning “baisse voile” (“lower the sails”), later became Beychevelle.