Château Chasse Spleen 2002

Lot presentation

Château Chasse Spleen 2002

The wine

The vines, averaging around 30 years, thrive on some of the finest soils of the Moulis-en-Médoc appellation, where gravel, clay and limestone combine to produce fruit of depth and character. Planted at close to 10,000 vines per hectare, they yield small, concentrated berries that translate into wines of notable complexity. Cabernet Sauvignon typically forms the backbone of the blend, often accounting for around half of the final assemblage, supported by Merlot, Petit Verdot and, more occasionally, Cabernet Franc.
In the glass, the wine shows an intense ruby hue with aromas of cherry, prune, cinnamon and vanilla. The palate reveals impressive tannic structure, body and harmony, coming together in a wine of considerable elegance. In the finest vintages, Chasse-Spleen can stand comfortably alongside some of the leading classified crus. A wine that wins over all palates, and a natural partner for refined cuisine.

Charles Baudelaire and Lord Byron are among this wine's most enthusiastic and famous ambassadors, which has become one of the most representative crus bourgeois from Médoc. The vines have an average age of 30 years and grow on the best plots on the Grand Poujeaux hilltop in deep gravelly soil. After manual harvests, the winemaking process takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel and concrete tanks. The wines are then aged in the traditional style for 12 to 14 months in oak barrels (40% renewed each year). The wines are bottled at the château after being fined with egg whites. The Château was not included in the 1855 classification because the owner at that time, Madame Castaing, was still establishing the vineyard, following an inheritance. However, Chasse Spleen was made a Grand cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel in 1932. This status was confirmed in the revision that took place in June 2003.