France, Bordeaux

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.