Château Chasse-Spleen: Tasting & Drinking
With a Cabernet-dominated style and gravel terroir, the wines of Château Chasse-Spleen are more typical of the great communal appellations of the left bank than we would perhaps expect. It is not that unusual around Moulis-en-Médoc and Listrac to find soils of clay and limestone, and wines where Merlot plays a more significant role than expected. But Château Chasse-Spleen plays to its strengths, in particular that isolated pocket of gravel around the village of Grand Poujeaux. As a result, the wines have a classic poise, and yet because of the peripheral appellation and the estate’s ‘outsider’ status when it comes to the grander classifications of the left bank, the wines remain good value.
It might come as no surprise to learn, then, that I have a soft spot for the wines of Château Chasse-Spleen, one which came after I had acquired (and begun drinking, of course) a case of the 1989 vintage many years ago. The wine has shown very well over the years, exceeding all my expectations to a great degree, but in terms of quality and its ability to age. Other more recent vintages may perhaps give the same pleasure in future years. Safe bets would seem to be the 2005, 2008 and 2010 vintages, and perhaps also 2015. (31/10/06, updated 30/3/17, 14/9/24)
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