Château Chasse-Spleen

Château Chasse-Spleen is a historic wine estate in the Moulis-en-Médoc appellation of Bordeaux, France, located north-west of Margaux. It is one of the best-known properties in Moulis and is associated with structured, age-worthy red Bordeaux made principally from Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and Petit Verdot completing the blend. Although Moulis was not included in the 1855 Classification of the Médoc, Chasse-Spleen has long been regarded as a leading estate of the appellation and is frequently described as operating at a cru classé standard. The property’s viticultural history is documented to the sixteenth century, with records reaching back to 1560 and indications that cultivation may have begun earlier. The estate was initially known as Grand-Poujeaux and was connected with the seigneurs Grenier, a name that may have evolved into Gressier. Inheritance-related division in 1822 split the original property, creating Château Gressier-Grand-Poujeaux and leaving another portion with the Castaing family. Additional divisions during the 1860s helped establish the distinct estates later known as Chasse-Spleen, Maucaillou and Poujeaux. The unusual name is generally interpreted as meaning “to chase away the blues” or “to dispel melancholy.” Several traditions attempt to explain its origin. One associates it with Lord Byron’s reported 1821 reaction to the vineyards, while another connects the name with Charles Baudelaire’s poem “Spleen” and a purported visit. These stories form part of the estate’s cultural identity, although the precise origin of the name is not definitively established. Ownership changed several times during the twentieth century. The Segnitz family, north German wine merchants, owned the estate from 1909 to 1914 and were credited with helping reinforce its quality and reputation. Following the outbreak of the First World War, the property was confiscated as enemy property. It was subsequently sold at auction in 1922 to the Lahary family, who maintained the estate’s standing for several decades. In 1976, Chasse-Spleen was acquired by a consortium controlled by the Merlaut family, whose Bordeaux holdings also came to include properties such as Gruaud-Larose, Ferrière, Citran and Haut-Bages-Libéral. A major modern phase began when Bernadette Villars, daughter of Jacques Merlaut, and her husband assumed control. Villars had changed careers from teaching to winemaking, and worked with the influential Bordeaux oenologist Émile Peynaud. Improvements to the estate’s facilities and winemaking contributed to renewed recognition for the wines. Villars and her husband died in a mountaineering accident in the Pyrenees in 1992. Management later passed to her daughter, Céline Villars-Foubet, while her sister Claire Villars Lurton became associated with the management of other family properties. Chasse-Spleen was selected as one of six “Crus Exceptionnels” in the 1932 Cru Bourgeois classification. It retained that distinction through subsequent revisions until the classification was annulled in 2007. The estate produces its principal red wine, Château Chasse-Spleen, together with the second wines L’Héritage de Chasse-Spleen and L’Oratoire de Chasse-Spleen. The vineyard covers approximately 80 hectares, planted with about 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. Reported annual production is approximately 28,000 cases of the grand vin and about 14,000 cases across the two second wines. In February 2023, the estate announced the acquisition of neighboring Château Brillette, expanding its presence within the Moulis-en-Médoc landscape.

Château Chasse-Spleen is rooted in the long viticultural history of the Moulis-en-Médoc area in Bordeaux. Documentary evidence places cultivation on the property at least as early as 1560, although the origins may predate that record. The estate was initially known as Grand-Poujeaux and was associated with the Grenier seigneurs, whose name may later have become Gressier. The property was fragmented through inheritance and subsequent sales. In 1822, inheritance complications divided Grand-Poujeaux, with one section becoming Château Gressier-Grand-Poujeaux and another passing to the Castaing family. Further divisions in the 1860s created the separate identities of Chasse-Spleen, Maucaillou and Poujeaux. This history explains why several notable Moulis estates occupy what was once a larger holding. The name Chasse-Spleen has an unusually literary character. It is commonly translated as “to chase away the blues” or “to dispel melancholy.” A traditional account attributes the phrase to Lord Byron, who supposedly reacted to the vineyards during a visit in 1821 by asking what remedy could chase away spleen. A second account links the name to Charles Baudelaire’s poem “Spleen” and a purported visit to the property. Neither explanation is conclusive, but both have contributed to the estate’s distinctive cultural image. The property changed hands during a turbulent period in the early twentieth century. The Segnitz family, north German wine merchants, owned it from 1909 to 1914 and helped strengthen the quality and reputation of the wine. After the First World War began, the estate was confiscated as enemy property. It was eventually sold by auction in 1922 to the Lahary family, who preserved its position over the following decades. In 1976, Chasse-Spleen was purchased by a consortium controlled by the Merlaut family. The Merlauts developed a significant portfolio of Bordeaux estates, including Gruaud-Larose, Ferrière, Citran and Haut-Bages-Libéral. Bernadette Villars, Jacques Merlaut’s daughter, later took control with her husband after moving from a teaching career into winemaking. Working with Professor Émile Peynaud, one of the major figures in modern Bordeaux oenology, she oversaw improvements in facilities and wine quality. Bernadette Villars and her husband died in a mountaineering accident in the Pyrenees in 1992. The estate subsequently came under the management of their daughter Céline Villars-Foubet. Her sister, Claire Villars Lurton, became involved in the management of other family properties, including Château Ferrière, Château Haut-Bages-Libéral and Château La Gurgue. Chasse-Spleen was recognized in the 1932 Cru Bourgeois classification as one of six Crus Exceptionnels. It retained this status through later revisions until the classification was annulled in 2007. The estate is nevertheless widely regarded as a property whose quality and reputation approach those of classified growths. Its vineyard extends over approximately 80 hectares and is planted primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon, supported by Merlot and Petit Verdot. The principal wine is supplemented by the second labels L’Héritage de Chasse-Spleen and L’Oratoire de Chasse-Spleen. In February 2023, Chasse-Spleen acquired neighboring Château Brillette. The transaction reinforced the estate’s local footprint and continued a long pattern of consolidation and estate-building within Bordeaux’s appellations.

• 2023

  Acquisition of Château Brillette

  [1]Château Chasse-Spleenen.wikipedia.org

  Château Chasse-Spleen acquired neighboring Château Brillette in Moulis-en-Médoc.

• 2007

  Cru Bourgeois classification annulled

  [1]Château Chasse-Spleenen.wikipedia.org

  The Cru Bourgeois classification that had included Chasse-Spleen through successive revisions was annulled.

• 1992

  Management transition after the death of Bernadette Villars

  [1]Château Chasse-Spleenen.wikipedia.org

  Bernadette Villars and her husband died in a Pyrenees mountaineering accident, after which the next generation became involved in the estate’s management.

• 1976

  Acquired by Merlaut-controlled interests

  [1]Château Chasse-Spleenen.wikipedia.org

  A consortium controlled by the Merlaut family acquired the estate.

• 1932

  Named a Cru Exceptionnel

  [1]Château Chasse-Spleenen.wikipedia.org

  Château Chasse-Spleen was selected as one of six Crus Exceptionnels in the Cru Bourgeois classification.

• 1860

  Further estate divisions

  [1]Château Chasse-Spleenen.wikipedia.org

  Further divisions during the 1860s helped form the distinct estates later known as Chasse-Spleen, Maucaillou and Poujeaux.

• 1822

  Grand-Poujeaux divided through inheritance

  [1]Château Chasse-Spleenen.wikipedia.org

  Inheritance complications divided the original Grand-Poujeaux estate, creating Château Gressier-Grand-Poujeaux and other successor holdings.

• 1560

  Viticultural history documented

  [1]Château Chasse-Spleenen.wikipedia.org

  Records place viticulture on the property at least as early as 1560, establishing the estate’s long historical roots.

A leading Moulis-en-Médoc estate positioned as a high-quality Bordeaux property with cru classé-level reputation, despite not being part of the 1855 Classification of the Médoc.

• Grand vin red Bordeaux

  Château Chasse-Spleen

  The estate’s principal wine, produced in the Moulis-en-Médoc appellation. The vineyard is planted primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot and Petit Verdot. The wine is the central expression of the property’s identity and is widely associated with the quality level of a classified Bordeaux growth.

• Second wine

  L’Héritage de Chasse-Spleen

  A second wine produced under the Chasse-Spleen name. It extends the estate’s Bordeaux offering beyond the grand vin while retaining an explicit connection to the principal property.

• Second wine

  L’Oratoire de Chasse-Spleen

  A second-label wine associated with Château Chasse-Spleen. It forms part of the estate’s multi-tiered portfolio alongside the grand vin and L’Héritage de Chasse-Spleen.

• 2023

  Acquisition of Château BrilletteM&A

  Background

  Château Brillette is a neighboring estate in the Moulis-en-Médoc area, making the transaction a local expansion of the Chasse-Spleen estate footprint.

  Action taken

  Château Chasse-Spleen acquired Château Brillette.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition expanded the estate’s holdings within its home appellation. Further operational or financial details are not specified in the reference material.

  Source

1. 1Château Chasse-Spleenen.wikipedia.org