Château Chasse-Spleen 2022
In Moulis-en-Médoc, Chasse-Spleen is one of those estates whose name far exceeds the boundaries of its appellation. Located in the Grand Poujeaux area, the vineyard benefits from gravelly slopes that constitute one of the most sought-after terroirs in Moulis, particularly favorable to Cabernet Sauvignon. The modern history of the château is closely linked to the Merlaut-Villars family: since 2000, Céline Villars-Foubet has continued the work started by her mother Claire Villars and her grandmother Bernadette Villars. Over the decades, the estate has built its reputation on a very Médoc-style interpretation of the wine, favoring structure, freshness, and finesse of the tannic grain rather than a systematic search for power. Cabernet Sauvignon naturally plays a central role, accompanied by Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. This identity takes on a special dimension in sunny vintages when the gravel allows the combination of fruit ripeness and wine structure.
The Château Chasse-Spleen 2022 blends 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. The year was marked by a fairly dry winter, some cold spells, then frost at the end of March and beginning of April before a particularly satisfactory flowering. From June onwards, four heatwave periods established hot and dry conditions, which the vines remarkably resisted. The harvest was logically early: Merlot was picked from September 17 to 29, the Cabernets on September 27 and 28, then Petit Verdot on October 1 and 2. Some light rains arrived at the right time to accompany the end of ripening. Despite the heat of the vintage, the estate emphasizes the absence of overripe character in the grapes, an essential element to understand the profile of 2022. The natural richness of the year is thus framed by the significant proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, which provides the wine with its backbone and length.
Very deep in color, the 2022 shows from the nose the expected intensity of a great Médoc vintage, but without tipping into exuberance. Ripe cherry and black fruits are accompanied by nuances of chocolate, red rose, and a fresh vegetal touch evoking verbena. The palate is ample from the attack, with generous material that still retains a lot of mobility. The most interesting feature lies in the tannins: dense but fine, slightly chalky, they give relief to the texture without hardening the whole. The fruit returns long on the finish, carried by freshness that effectively balances the concentration of 2022. Still young, Chasse-Spleen will benefit from spending a few years in the cellar so that its framework blends and its notes of cedar, graphite, and spices take more space. A roasted rack of lamb, a beef fillet with porcini mushrooms, roast duck, or a veal dish with morels will particularly well accompany its depth and structure.
Grape varieties: 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
