2025 Château Chasse-Spleen

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Château Chasse-Spleen 2025 once again confirms its reputation as one of the most reliable names on the Left Bank outside the major classifications. This Moulis-en-Médoc combines structure, depth, and classic Médoc tension with a powerful, dark-toned style that seems perfectly suited for further bottle aging.

Château Chasse-Spleen

Château Chasse-Spleen has been one of the absolute benchmarks of Moulis-en-Médoc for decades. Although the château is not part of the 1855 classification, it is considered by many Bordeaux enthusiasts to be one of the best crus bourgeois of the Médoc. According to tradition, the name refers to the poet Charles Baudelaire, with the wine even said to dispel melancholy, or “chasser le spleen”.

The château is situated on a terroir of deep gravel soils, comparable to parts of Saint-Julien and Pauillac, which provides structure, freshness, and classic Cabernet expression. It is precisely this combination that often makes Chasse-Spleen a wine that transcends its appellation. You can find more information about the château under the Winery tab.

Origin and growing season in Moulis-en-Médoc

For Chasse-Spleen, 2025 appears to have yielded a classic Médoc vintage with sufficient concentration and structure. The grapes were harvested between September 12 and 23, a period in which optimal ripeness and freshness came together. According to several tasters, the wine displays a powerful style with ripe fruit concentration and sufficient tension to keep the structure in balance.

Moulis-en-Médoc is known for wines that are often slightly firmer and earthier than their neighbors from Margaux or Saint-Julien. In a year like 2025, precisely that classic signature seems to come to the fore, with sufficient density and aging potential.

Grapes and vinification

Château Chasse-Spleen 2025 is expected to age for approximately 16 months in oak, of which about 35% are new barriques. This aging process adds refined spiciness and structure without overpowering the character of the fruit. According to Neal Martin, the wine displays a slightly firmer extraction than some direct competitors within the appellation, which gives the wine extra gravitas and ageing potential.

The style of Chasse-Spleen traditionally revolves around the balance between fruit, structure, and freshness. It is precisely the combination of ripe dark fruit and classic Médoc structure that makes this wine interesting for lovers of classic Bordeaux.

Style and taste profile

Château Chasse-Spleen 2025 displays a dark and structured profile with aromas of blackcurrant, redcurrant, graphite, earth, and subtle iron nuances. Additionally, notes of liquorice, spices, incense, new leather, and a hint of chocolate emerge, giving the wine extra depth.

On the palate, the wine presents itself as medium to full-bodied, with a firm yet ripe tannin structure and a core of dark fruit. James Suckling describes the wine as structured and muscular, with earthy notes, spices, and terracotta-like nuances. Antonio Galloni speaks of a deep and powerful Moulis-en-Médoc with an intense, long-lasting finish. Neal Martin calls the wine solid and compact, noting that oak aging in the coming years will bring additional refinement.