CHÂTEAU CHASSE SPLEEN
2020 Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel Moulis-en-Médoc
Eric Boissenot is consulting here, and this historic vineyard really works in hot, dry vintages like 2020. Gravel on Clay/Clay on a Chalk slab that is over 1m thick provides ample water storage when the going gets tough, similar to good spots on the right bank. This is where Merlot thrives and so it is not surprising it makes up almost half of this blend. Immediately there is a good feel to this. Polished - full - but not heavy. Great flow. Very nice aromatics - little bit of bright acidity keeps the drive forward, but also adds an upright feel to what could become quite serious and intense. Peppy berry-fruit, but with charm of ripeness too and ample grip - well balanced for the future. L&S (May 2021)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
Blackcurrants, black mushroom and bark. Light nutmeg undertones. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a fine velvety texture with a savory and juicy finish. Balanced. 49% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 4.5% petit verdot and 2.5% cabernet franc. Drink after 2025. Rating: 94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2023)
The 2020 Chasse-Spleen is packed with dark fruit, chocolate, dried herbs, spice, leather and tobacco. Pliant and racy, with terrific depth and fine balance, Chasse-Spleen has much to offer in an immediate, juicy style that is quite appealing. This is nicely done. Drinking range: 2025 - 2035 Rating: 90 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Feb 2023)
The 2020 Chasse-Spleen has opened up on the nose, quite precocious with black cherries, blueberry and candied orange peel, one of the most sensual aromatics profiles from Moulis. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, not as complex as the finest wines that I've tasted from this address, yet cohesive with a pleasant pepperiness and quite a persistent finish. Very fine. Drinking range: 2027 - 2042 Rating: 91 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2023)
Blackcurrants, black mushroom and bark. Light nutmeg undertones. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a fine velvety texture with a savory and juicy finish. Balanced. 49% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 4.5% petit verdot and 2.5% cabernet franc. Drink after 2025. Rating: 94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Dec 2022)
This is a classy Chasse-Spleen with more than just a one-flavour-message. There are some lovely layers here and the texture is smooth and balanced while the oak ramps up the tension on the finish as it joins the tannins to warn the drinker off for a good ten years. This is a very successful wine in 2020 and it keeps this Château at the forefront if its region. Rating: 17+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Jun 2021)
The 2020 Chasse-Spleen is plump, juicy and easy to like. Ripe red cherry, plum, spice and lavender all meld together in this soft, easygoing Moulis. Not hugely complex, but irresistibly delicious. Drinking range: 2025 - 2035 Rating: 88-90 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jun 2021)
The 2020 Chasse-Spleen offers attractive wild strawberry, blackberry and rose petal scents on the nose, which is well defined and very cohesive. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, a smooth texture and cedar and leather notes infusing the red fruit. I am just seeking a little more backbone and grip on the finish of this Chasse-Spleen, although it should still give 15–20 years of drinking pleasure. Drinking range: 2027 - 2042 Rating: 89-91 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2021)
Tight tannins, austerity through the mid palate. Bright fruit on the attack, and this is a well constructed wine with ambition. 2.5% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. A yield of 37.5 hl/ha. Drinking range: 2025 - 2038 Rating: 91 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)
49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 6.5% Petit Verdot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc. Deep cherry red. Lovely mix of aromas: cassis, cassis leaf and a slightly sweeter damson, plus dark chocolate. Scented and open for an unfinished wine. Firm, chewy Moulis tannins but all in harmony with the fruit, and sufficient freshness to balance. A complete wine that certainly needs time. Drinking range: 2028 - 2035 Rating: 16+ Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2021)
Château Chasse Spleen
Remarkable Chasse-Spleen has always produced high quality wines, which, for the last thirty years, have been worthy of a Third Growth Grand Cru. The English translation of the name of this Cru Bourgeois property is ‘chasing the blues away’, making it one of the most poetic of all names in the Médoc. Owned by Claire Villars, Chasse-Spleen is the leading estate of the little known Moulis appellation, and the wines are of excellent quality. Taking a look around the property (and if you are lucky, being guided round by Jean Pierre Foubet, Claire’s highly entertaining husband) gives you a good idea why they are so well admired. A large estate, although not all plots are next to the château itself; the cellars are impeccably clean, and there is a beautiful tasting room overlooking the barrel cellar and vines.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2022 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2025. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2025. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.