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LOL…so many good recs and values. Maybe this thread should be merged with the overpriced Napa thread…
What years do people recommend for Chasse Spleen (young or old)? I used to have some 1981 and I have one bottle of 1985 left. I always liked it but for whatever reason no others made it to the cellar.
The 1989 is the “legend”, at least in the last 30 years. But Chasse Spleen changed hands with the 2009 vintage or am I thinking of Poujeaux? Maybe they both did. At any rate, the style may have changed. As of the 2000 vintage, it was still an old school claret that punched above its weight.
I just thought of another, have we not mentioned Potensac? The 2000 of that was singing a few years ago.
I think Chasse Spleen is still run by the Villars family.
1989 !!!
Really singing !
Even better: 1986!!!
For the first time ever (other than Sauternes and Barsac) I bought a lot of halves from the 2014 vintage. They offer halves on many Châteaux en primeur here, most only in cases of 12 x 0.375 l bottles, but some also in individual quantities. I bought wines like Capbern Gasqueton, Haut Bailly, Léoville Poyferré and Branaire Ducru in halves. I hope it’ll give me the chance to properly assess the wines over the course of the first ten or so years. And if they develop well, I can still buy 0,75 l bottles (or even Magnums 
) of the wines at auction. That’s probably not possible with a vintage like 2000 or 2005, but with a vintage like 2014 it should work out, I hope.
Really great recommendations on this thread. As there were also some recommendations on classified growths that I really like and rather buy than Cru Bourgeois at the same price, it makes me think that the question is maybe more complex because vintage should be taken into consideration as well. I kind of like the guidelines:
- Buy at the upper end in weak vintages
- Buy at the lower end in strong vintages
The first guideline is not helpful in my view. But the second one is. I don’t need to have 2011 Lanessan or Phelan Segur in my cellar, but buying at the lower end in vintages like 2000, 2005 or 2009 has proven to be a good idea and I feel like the money was better spent on a Ch. Pedesclaux 2009 (22.50 Euros) or a Ch. Bellegrave 2009 (18 Euros) than on a Château Gloria or a Château Chasse-Spleen at 20-30 Euros from a vintage like 2011.
Steven,
I agree but don´t write off so called lesser vintages. You will miss some gems. The truth is always in the bottle.
Well, not in my opinion, although it might have improved and is now on par with the 1989 (but I doubt it will ever be better) - but when we tasted 4 vintages of Chasse Spleen side by side (1985/86/89/90) the ´89 was definitely the best - it showed a sweetness the ´86 did not possess …
85 and ´90 were slightly behind, ´85 fully mature, ´90 with space for improvement.
But that´s maybe a matter of taste …
… or it was the specific bottle … who knows …
Larrivet Haut Brion…old world graves/ new world mix…still my fav. '08 Bordeaux…this is a no brainer purchase…Jancis scored '14 in step with the first growths, impressive.
Labegorce…'05 rocks…has that Margaux profile
Chateau Aney…next to sociando half the price…loved '05
Chateau La Clare…made by Rollan de by…nice '04
Beau Site…another nice '04
Rollan de by…'03 is rocking…drank it with Alfert in Vegas.
Surprised no one has mentioned d’Angludet and d’Arsac in Margaux -
Another Right Banker that I’ve always appreciated is Chateau Rocher Corbin in Montagne Saint Emilion. Old vines, a meticulous property, newer vintages have a bit more new oak than I would like, but it’s a serious wine for sure -
2010 Chateau Pibran is another winner
So that Neal doesn’t feel like that only one enabled, I just grabbed a six pack of 2010 Senejac. And 2x2012 Gruard Larose ($50).
Yum.
Anyone for Gressier Grand Poujeaux? I had a few nice bottles of the 1975 about five years back.
I just bought a bottle each of 2009 GGP and Bernadotte to try.
2001 Vieux Château Champs de Mars Johanna
Purchased for under $20…I would have been comfortable putting this up against any $50 range classified growth
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I mentioned this up thread but Grand Corbin Despagne continues to punch above it’s weight. Ownership remains in the same family and their process is consistently traditional. It even shows well in clunky glasses!
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Lagune from the 80’s
We ate at du Tetre and had a good sampling of their wines. Quite nice. Right bank wines.
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I will dive in too, 1982 La Lagune=excellent juice!