Château Chasse-Spleen - Moulis-en-Médoc 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

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

Decanter

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

The first estate 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 dispelling dark thoughts”... But the fame of this vast estate (102 ha) also, and above all, stems from the long history of its winemaking tradition (1865) and the quality of its wines, born from 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. At the helm of the entire estate since 2000 is Céline Villars-Foubet, granddaughter of Jacques Merlaut.

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

About the wine:

The 2021 vintage is delightful and smooth, with notes of fresh red berries. With its well-integrated, supple tannins, it is already very approachable. A wine that is ready to drink now.

About the estate:

This wine enjoys an excellent reputation—one that is well deserved. Chasse-Spleen boasts a beautiful terroir, located largely on the magnificent gravel soils of the Grand Poujeaux area. Its rich structure and powerful aromas place it at the forefront of the appellation, producing wines that are consistently elegant and easy to drink, avoiding the sometimes somewhat rustic character found in the region.

Wine Enthusiast

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling

About the wine:

Bright red plums, blackcurrants, blueberries, and wet stones with hints of toasted spices. The palate is smooth and medium-bodied, with a fruity character infused with juicy berries. Elegant, fresh, and nuanced. Linear and long-lasting, yet fairly understated. It needs time to reveal itself. Best after 2025.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

On the nose, a refined gentleman in a three-piece suit, looking dapper after a visit to the barber. On the palate, woody and herbal notes, like the forest floor in spring—rich and fertile.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

Strict and reserved, the nose does not reveal itself immediately. It is no exaggeration to say that the wine presents itself with a certain austerity. The palate is straightforward, with a rigorous, focused structure, offering a range of red fruits (redcurrant, raspberry) subtly enhanced by a toastiness resulting from aging that is still pronounced at this stage. A very classic wine.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fruity, with a delicate texture, moderate intensity, and elegance. It reveals notes of juicy blackberry, plump raspberry, and, more subtly, vibrant cherry, combined with delicate hints of violet, subtle notes of fresh blond tobacco, and a hint of almond and cinnamon. The palate is fruity, offering juiciness, smoothness, freshness, good definition, elegance, richness, and a lovely finesse in its structure. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of plump, juicy blackcurrant, cherry, and a hint of violet, combined with hints of lily, bright small berries, and zan, as well as a subtle hint of eucalyptus and chocolate. The tannins are precise and velvety. Good length.

Tastingbook - Markus Del Monego

About the wine:

Deep purple color with violet highlights and a black core. An elegant nose with floral notes, blackberries and elderberries, vanilla, subtle roasted notes, and a hint of chocolate. On the palate, the wine is well-structured, medium-bodied, and has excellent length, with subtle spicy notes and juicy fruit that lingers on the finish.