Château Chasse-Spleen - Moulis-en-Médoc 2019

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

The Chasse-Spleen vineyard remains legendary, perched on the Grand-Poujeaux plateau with its Garonne gravel, where Cabernet Sauvignon dominates, giving the wines a distinct Médoc character. It is undoubtedly one of the most renowned wines of Moulis, often considered to be classified given the quality of its wines. These wines have a distinctive character, both fruity and spicy, but always retaining a freshness of licorice on the finish.

About the estate:

The Chasse-Spleen vineyard remains legendary, perched on the Grand-Poujeaux plateau with its Garonne gravel, where Cabernet Sauvignon dominates, giving the wines a distinct Médoc character. It is undoubtedly one of the most renowned wines of Moulis, often considered to be classified given the quality of its wines. These wines have a distinctive character, both fruity and spicy, but always retaining a freshness of licorice on the finish.

Decanter

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

True to tradition, Chasse-Spleen offers a wine well suited for aging, with an expressive bouquet of ripe fruit supported by well-balanced oak, a beautiful tannic structure that is dense and balanced, freshness, and a long finish.

About the estate:

First acquired by Jacques Merlaut (1976), co-founder of the Taillan group, Chasse-Spleen owes its fame in part to its name, which is said to have been suggested to the owner at the time by the Bordeaux painter Odilon Redon, illustrator of Les Fleurs du Mal, or by Lord Byron, a lover of the estate's wine, "which is unmatched in chasing away dark thoughts"... But the reputation of this vast estate (102 hectares) is also, and above all, due to the long history of its wine-growing tradition (1865) and the quality of its wines, produced on a terroir of Garonne gravel. The estate also owns 21 hectares in the Haut-Médoc appellation. The wine was called Ermitage de Chasse Spleen until 2000, before being renamed L'Héritage de Chasse-Spleen. Céline Villars-Foubet, Jacques Merlaut's granddaughter, has been at the helm since 2000.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

Offering aromas of blackcurrant, plum, pencil lead, and licorice, Chasse-Spleen 2019 is medium-bodied to full-bodied, with a fleshy core of fruit, lively acids, and ripe, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish with a very civilized expression of grip typical of Moulis. Forget it for a decade and follow it for the next two.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

This vintage enjoys an excellent reputation, which is well deserved. Chasse-Spleen has a beautiful terroir, located largely on the magnificent gravel soils of the Grand Poujeaux sector. Its rich composition and aromatic power place it at the top of the appellation, with wines that are always elegant and easy to drink, avoiding the sometimes slightly rustic character found in the sector.

Wine Enthusiast

Jancis Robinson

Vinous

About wine:

Chasse-Spleen 2019 is tight on the nose, despite the fact that I left my sample open for 3 or 4 hours. But I appreciate the fruity profile: scents of blackberry, wild strawberry, cedar, and light tobacco unfold almost reluctantly. The palate seems promising, classic in style, unrestrained but unwilling to reveal itself at this early stage. Fresh on the attack, the acidity is well balanced and it has a beautiful grainy texture. It reveals hints of graphite that linger in the finish. Excellent.

James Suckling

About wine:

Aromas of blackcurrant, black cherry, licorice, dried tobacco, and damp earth. Also has a leafy character. Medium-bodied with chewy tannins and a lively, juicy fruitiness. Firm and compact with notes of crushed stone on the finish. A little shy at the end. 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Drink after 2024.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

Showing much better in the bottle after the aging process, this medium-bodied, delicate, and fresh wine focuses on its core of ripe, sweet currants, tobacco, and spices. It doesn't have too much weight, but it compensates with its elegance and finesse. Drink between 2024 and 2037.