Château Chasse Spleen

History of Château Chasse-Spleen

Château Chasse-Spleen, whose poetic name continues to intrigue, has its origins in the 18th century. Initially, it was part of a vast estate known as Château Grand-Poujeaux, which was divided in 1822. This split gave rise to several great estates in the region, including Château Gressier-Grand-Poujeaux and the celebrated Château Chasse-Spleen. The origin of the name remains enigmatic: some say that Lord Byron, during his visit in 1821, found there a "remedy to chase away the spleen," while others attribute this name to the French poet Charles Baudelaire, who is said to have also visited the estate.

Château Chasse-Spleen remained in the hands of the Castaing family until the First World War. Subsequently, it changed owners before being acquired in 1976 by Jacques Merlaut, a visionary négociant. With the help of his daughter Bernadette Villars, the renown of Chasse-Spleen extended well beyond France's borders. Today, the management of the estate is entrusted to Jacques's granddaughter, Céline Villars-Foubet, who continues to raise the quality of the wines while preserving the family legacy. Under her leadership, strategic acquisitions, such as that of Château Brillette in 2022, have made it possible to expand the estate and strengthen its place among the finest crus of the Médoc.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Chasse-Spleen

Château Chasse-Spleen benefits from an exceptional terroir, located in the Moulis-en-Médoc appellation, at the summit of the Grand Poujeaux ridges. The vineyard, extending over 135 hectares, rests on soils of quaternary gravel mixed with clay and limestone, offering a mineral richness conducive to the production of great wines. This terroir is distinguished by the diversity of its plots: approximately 80% of the vineyard is composed of Garonne gravel soils, ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, while the remainder of the estate rests on clay-limestone soils, favoring the expression of Merlot.

The grape varieties at Château Chasse-Spleen are finely adapted to this terroir: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. With a high planting density (8,000 to 10,000 vines per hectare) and an average vine age of 30 years, the estate maintains a perfect balance between structure and elegance. A small plot of 3 hectares is also dedicated to white grape varieties, producing an elegant Bordeaux Blanc under the name Blanc de Chasse-Spleen. This white wine stands out for its delicate aromas and constitutes a unique complement to the estate's iconic reds.

Winemaking at Château Chasse-Spleen

The winemaking at Château Chasse-Spleen combines tradition and modernity to guarantee irreproachable quality. The process begins with manual harvesting, allowing for rigorous selection of grapes at optimal ripeness. The estate uses a blend of stainless steel tanks and wooden vats for fermentation, where temperature is controlled to preserve the freshness and aromatic integrity of the grapes.

Château Chasse-Spleen is advised by the renowned oenologist Jacques Boissenot, whose expertise helps to elevate each vintage. Maceration lasts approximately one month to extract depth of aroma and richness of tannins. After fermentation, the wine is aged for between 12 and 15 months in French oak barrels, approximately 40% of which are renewed each year. This judicious choice of aging imparts to the wines of Chasse-Spleen a complexity and elegance that develop over the years.

The Cuvées of Château Chasse-Spleen

Château Chasse-Spleen offers a range of wines that delight the palate with their richness and finesse. 

Château Chasse-Spleen - First Wine

 This wine is the flagship of the estate, offering a powerful and full-bodied profile. Dominated by notes of blackcurrant, red fruits, and subtle hints of vanilla, it is distinguished by its velvety tannic structure and its fine length on the palate. Château Chasse-Spleen is a quintessential wine for cellaring, one that blossoms magnificently over the years.

L'Oratoire de Chasse-Spleen - Second Wine

Sourced from the estate's younger vines, this wine embodies a more accessible expression of Chasse-Spleen. Less structured than the first wine, the Oratoire offers enticing aromas of red fruits and gentle spices, with supple tannins and a lovely freshness. It can be enjoyed in its youth, but also offers good aging potential.

L'Héritage de Chasse-Spleen (formerly L'Ermitage)

This second wine, renamed L'Héritage from the 2001 vintage onward, is a wine that reflects the typicity of the Médoc terroir while being more immediate and indulgent. It is perfect for those who wish to discover the Chasse-Spleen style without waiting many years.

Blanc de Chasse-Spleen 

This white wine, produced in small quantities, is made from Sémillon (65%) and Sauvignon Blanc (35%). With aromas of acacia honey, yellow fruits, and aromatic herbs, it offers a beautiful acidity and a perfect balance between freshness and roundness. Due to the restrictions of the appellation, this wine is marketed as a generic Bordeaux Blanc, but it stands out for its quality and elegance.

The best-known wines of Moulis are the châteaux Chasse Spleen, Gressier Grand Poujeaux, Maucaillou, Poujeaux…

Moulis-en-Médoc, one of the prestigious appellations of the Bordeaux wine region, is renowned for producing remarkable wines, particularly in its finest vintages. Among the most notable, one finds iconic years such as 1975, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, and 1990, which have left a lasting impression on fine wine enthusiasts. Other exceptional vintages include 1995, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, each recognized for its balance and depth. More recently, the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 continue this tradition, with particularly elegant and promising wines. These vintages offer an exceptional palette of flavors and longevity, reinforcing Bordeaux's reputation as a global benchmark for fine wines.

Château Chasse-Spleen is an essential reference among the great wines of Bordeaux. Its rich history, exceptional terroir, and family expertise have allowed the domaine de to create wines of remarkable quality, renowned for their power, elegance, and accessibility. Through innovative management that is respectful of tradition, Céline Villars-Foubet and Jean-Pierre Foubet perpetuate the legacy of Chasse-Spleen, with a constant commitment to quality and respect for the terroir.

Discover other estates and châteaux of Bordeaux as well, such as the great Bordeaux Blancs and Yquem, the most illustrious of the Sauternes!