Château Chasse-Spleen 2023

Slightly herbaceous notes, red fruit, wet stone; a slender attack, with harmony and delicate fruit, firm tannins; a Chasse-Spleen with grip.

A resurgence in quality in recent years at this historical estate is confirmed in 2023, with pleasing forest strawberry and blue fruit coolness presaging a juicy palate, albeit with some unresolved (bordering on hard) tannins toward the finish. Nonetheless, the wine is nicely balanced between alcohol and acidity, with the type of tannin that barrel ageing (40% new oak barrels) will tame as planned. A lovely Moulis in the making.

The 2023 Chasse-Spleen is terrific. Aromatic, medium in body and nuanced, the 2023 packs quite a bit of intensity into its mid-weight frame. Floral and savory top notes cut through a core of brilliant red-toned fruit. Brisk acids that pull it all together on the finish. This is beautifully done.

Flowers, herbs, cedar, tobacco, and red berries shine in this medium-bodied, fresh, bright effort. The wine is crisp and chewy, with a chalky, firm finish. Drink from 2026-2043. 89-91 pts.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, brightening on the rim. Orange zest, dark berry fruit, floral nuances, some nougat, inviting bouquet. Medium body, red cherries, delicate tannins, fresh, offers uncomplicated drinking pleasure.

Fennel, raspberry leaf, iris flowers, dried cranberry. 40% new oak. 34hl/ha. This is a superbly located estate, not quite delivery on the joyful potential of the vintage. One point downscore.

Inviting, the bouquet reveals pleasant hints of liquorice and peppermint, complemented by floral notes. Creamy on the attack, the wine offers perfectly integrated tannins along with refreshing acidity. This acidity underpins the wine’s liveliness, while the tannins provide not only a solid structure, but also excellent ageing potential. A wine that deserves a little time to open up.

The nose is fruity, with fine concentration and very delicate intensity, a tight, fine grain and a peppery edge. It shows notes of blackberry, small black fruits and, more lightly, pepper, joined by touches of violet, lily and nutmeg, as well as discreet hints of spice. The palate is nicely juicy and fruity, offering freshness, good definition, a certain gourmandise, a tangy backbone, a racy minerality, tension, a lengthening sense of freshness, and precision. It reveals notes of juicy/pulpy blackberry, juicy/fresh blackcurrant and, more lightly, fresh red berries, with touches of violet, lily, cornflower and cubeb pepper, as well as fine hints of fresh spices and a gravelly, varietal undertone. Good length. Tannins are frank, racy and sapid.