Renegade Wines

 

Perhaps Bordeaux's Best Kept Secret!  


2018 Château Chasse-Spleen (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc)
2018 Château Chasse-Spleen
(France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc)
$60
Historically Moulis in the Medoc has always been considered remote, sleepy, a backwater location that produced wine of little interest; collectors' wouldn't waste space in their cellars with wines from Moulis, and little was done over the many decades to lift the wine world's assessment of the region. 
And this was strange as Moulis lies between the Saint-Julien and Margaux; two top notch regions known for producing stellar wines.
The vineyards and the winery have been around since 1720 but it wasn't until 1820 that the property was formally named Chasse-Spleen. Fast forward to 1976 when Monsieur Jacques Merlaut
purchased Chasse-Spleen; this is where the quality of the wines really begin to shine.
Generally speaking Château Chasse-Spleen style is closer to Margaux than Saint-Julien with a very favorable pricetag more associated with a daily drinker than the classified growths.
We fast forward to today and find that Monsieur Jacques Merlaut has been very busy in his 'retirement'. He (and the family) now own Haut Bages Libéral, Château Citran, and Gruaud-Larose, all top notch producer.
So we arrive at the 2018, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Merlot (40%), then a bit of Petit Verdot, and a hint of Cab Franc.
There's the classic aromas of cedar, tobacco leaf, and graphite coupled with violet, red and black fruit. On the palate there's lovely ripe red and black fruit, cocoa, spice, herbs, and a subtle floral infusion. Rustic but not too rustic with a lovely long finish.
This was a lively 'find' that we credit John Gilman for; his history of the Chateau in his publication, 'View from the Cellar' is outstanding.

As the evening is passing quickly and the week has been an excitingly active one, we will nod off here with this one wine.
If you're wondering what to pair with this bottle, the options are nearly endless.
Roast lamb, steak frites, ribeye, duck confit, wild mushroom risotto or ragu, lentil shepherd’s pie (a new favorite of ours), and even beef stir-fry with a hoisin‑leaning sauce.