Moulis-en-Médoc - Château Chasse Spleen - 2018 - AOC Red

Food and wine pairing: Red meats, duck breast with pepper sauce, white meats, ceps cooked in a pot, and cheeses.

Year: 2021

Taste: A harmoniously balanced wine, full-bodied, and generous. At the beginning of the tasting, it presents freshness and expressiveness, followed by a structure of fine, even slightly chalky tannins, which is tightly woven yet also enveloped in remarkable suppleness in the middle of the tasting. The enduring finish perfectly embodies the classic style of Chasse-Spleen.

Tasting: 16-18°

Volume of alcohol: 13.5 %

Awards:

Guide Hachette 2022: ★

Vinous: 91

Neal Martin: 88-90

Jancis Robinson: 16

Decanter: 92

The Estate and the Vineyard

Château Chasse-Spleen is a 105-hectare vineyard located in Moulis-en-Médoc, Gironde. It sits atop the highest point of the Grand-Poujeaux slopes. The soil consists mainly of 80% Garonne gravel on a limestone substrate containing asteries, with the remaining 20% being clay-limestone soils.

The property traces its origins back to a division of the Gressier family's estate in 1822, with part of it already cultivated with vines in the 12th century. Legend has it that Charles Baudelaire was enchanted by this exquisite wine and bestowed upon it its charming name. Owned by a German merchant family, the Segnitz from Bremen, in the early 20th century, it was seized in 1914 and acquired by Mr. Lahary in 1922. Classified as Cru Exceptionnel around 1860, the estate has since benefited from the meticulous attention of successive owners, who have taken great care of both the vineyard and the wine of Château Chasse-Spleen.

Located in the Haut-Médoc and Moulis-en-Médoc, the Chasse-Spleen vineyard spans over 75 hectares, primarily to the south and east of the gravelly ridge of Grand Poujeaux. It is entirely planted with noble grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, to produce the grand wine under the Moulis-en-Médoc appellation. The vineyard is cultivated sustainably, and it has been certified with the High Environmental Value level 3 certification. The soils are diverse, consisting of limestone subsoils, clay, and gravel.

Chasse-Spleen is a prestigious name synonymous with exceptional wine, a pride of the Médoc. This harmonious wine, very tannic, full-bodied, powerfully aromatic, and elegantly structured, lives up to its name, fully realizing its promises.