Château Chasse-Spleen 2022

Juicy and fleshy, this has a soft, bouncy core of ripe blackcurrant fruit with menthol, spiced herb and clove accents. Tannins are grippy in just the right places and this has a wide and open mouthfeel. It's on the plush side in terms of texture but maintains a cool and fresh core. Enjoyable. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.

The 2022 Chasse-Spleen has a harmonious bouquet with blackberry, tobacco and light smoky scents that emerge with time. The palate is well balanced and fresh, with lilting, lithe tannins and a brisk, saline finish that is light on its toes. Very fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Tobacco leaf, underbrush, cedar, and currants form the core of the wine. On the medium-bodied palate, the wine is crunchy, crisp, and classic, with a savory edge to a firm finish. Drink from 2025-2040. 89-91 pts.

Deep dark ruby, purple reflections, brightening on the rim. Fine oak, black forest berries, dark cherries, a hint of vanilla and nougat in the underlay. Juicy, light fruit expression, elegance and freshness, fine acidity, salty finish, a well-developed, subtle food wine.

Ripe currants, spicy oak, graphite, and leather notes all define the 2022 Château Chasse-Spleen, another Moulis that has beautiful richness and depth. It's medium-bodied, nicely balanced, has fine tannins, and outstanding length. This outstanding Moulis is based on 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, aged 18 months in 40% new barrels. It should have 20 years of overall longevity.

Medium intensity, well balanced, with attractive dark brambled fruits, notes of crayon, sweet baking spices and supple tannins; it reflects the heat of the vintage while staying within the lines. Aged in 40% new oak barrels, and this vintage includes part of the vines from the newly purchased Château Brillette, with good-quality Cabernet Sauvignon from gravel terroir.

A voluptuous, succulent fruit on the nose, evoking a profusion of very ripe, juicy small berries. On the palate, the texture is ripe and caressing, with freshness on the long finish.

The nose is beautifully distinctive, mineral and deep, with finesse and a silky texture, combining power, precision and depth. A subtle floral touch also emerges. It reveals vibrant notes of Boysenberry, bigarreau cherry and, more delicately, bright blueberry, accented by hints of cornflower, lily and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is fruity, fresh, mineral, elegant and indulgent. It shows a tangy backbone, precision, suppleness and delicacy. It expresses notes of pulpy blackberry, graphite and, more lightly, bright raspberry, combined with hints of vibrant blackcurrant, as well as nuances of plum blossom, violet, infusion, star anise and fine toasty touches. The tannins need time to polish. A touch of vanilla in the background. A wine offering a certain creaminess, bringing freshness with delicacy. Lovely persistence.

Wine darker than ever, with a highly aromatic palate and a medium body. Flavorful finish with low tannins.

Pleasant fruity expression in the bouquet of Chasse Spleen, with notes of wild berries, licorice, and cinnamon. With good density, the wine is juicy, harmonious, and supported by perfectly integrated tannins that provide power and potential, while the structure ensures freshness and character. A convincing wine that once again underlines its qualitative ambitions. A fine success.

The 2022 from Chasse-Spleen is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. An elegantly framed aromatic profile here, smoky, dark, delicately peppery, with a rather elegantly defined and crystalline core of fruit encased within, the combination nothing short of enticing. The palate follows up with a highly polished and coherent composition, with elegantly polished substance, plenty of fresh energy, with a firm and grippy backbone of tannin providing some grip, but it is the upper layers of currant, liquorice and damson fruits which remain dominant. The tannins give great support though, firm but appropriate, and they linger long into the finish. An impressive Chasse-Spleen, combining floral and perfumed individuality with density and structure;it will need a long time to come around. Tasted twice. The alcohol on the label is 13.4%.