History
Art, poetry and wine have blended together harmoniously at Château Chasse-Spleen for almost 2 centuries. The estate is currently home to an original collection of contemporary works of art, which are exhibited both inside and outside the château. A world of artistic surprises awaits visitors on the walk from the garden and through the barrel cellar to the tasting table. These temporary or permanent contemporary art exhibitions are set in creatively planted grounds, which include one hundred year-old trees and sculpted shrubs. A voyage of artistic and sensory discovery to be enjoyed by all.
In its more recent history, it was purchased by the talented négociant Jacques Merlaut in 1976. His daughter Bernadette Villars ran the property until her untimely death in 1992, after which the running of the estate was taken over by her daughter Claire, but now the estate is run by Claire's sister Céline with her husband Jean-Pierre Foubert. In 2003, the couple expanded the vineyard area, purchasing vines from nearby Gressier Grand Poujeaux, which had been part of the original estate.
The area under vine now stands at 100 hectares, with a great variety of complementary soil types, from cabernet sauvignon's favoured deep gravel, to merlot-friendly clay-limestone.