Château Angélus: Maurice de Boüard de Laforest
Nevertheless, the link is an essential one, as the modern history of Château Angélus is inextricably intertwined with that of the Boüard de Laforest family, who have been patrons of this estate since the early 20th century. This association began with Catherine, who seems to have bequeathed a 13-hectare plot of vineyards, the nidus around which the rest of the estate would subsequently grow, to Maurice de Boüard de Laforest in 1909. This is a third discrepancy in this section of the tale, as if true this inheritance came many decades after Catherine (who was born in 1773) must have died. Nevertheless, that the vines came to Maurice is certain.
This small beginning was augmented by the further acquisition of vines, a notable purchase coming in 1924. This was an adjacent 3-hectare vineyard, that which I have already described, known as Clos de L’Angélus. Ever since its acquisition the Boüard de Laforest estate has gone by the name of Angélus in one form or another, be it Clos de L’Angélus, L’Angélus or just the simple, modern-day Angélus. It is therefore Maurice de Boüard de Laforest who brought this domaine together. He remained involved for many years, although the running of the domaine was handed over to the next generation – three sons named Alain, Jacques and Christian – long before he died, and he enjoyed an active retirement. Not even a serious injury to his hand, sustained in 1936, could hold him back. Under his direction, the estate was classified as grand cru classé in the first St Emilion classification, in 1955. He eventually died in 1959, and the three brothers then had complete control.
