Château Grand Corbin-Despagne: The 20th Century
On 5th September 1899 Joseph Jean married Laurence Thérèse Cassat (1879 – 1942), and they had a son Paul Jean Despagne (1903 – 1965). he was to become one of the most significant figures in the history of this château, having directed the development of the estate throughout much of the 20th century. It was early in his life that the estate began to firm up its discrete identity within the Corbin universe; by 1908 it was known as Cru Grand-Corbin, and before long the name Despagne would be appended. Production had also greatly increased by this time, having climbed to 35 tonneaux per annum, which seems a little more believable (although still remarkably low if true). Perhaps this increase reflected an ongoing programme of planting?
The same year that the 1922 Cocks et Féret was published, Joseph Jean died. In the immediate aftermath the estate was managed by his widow, Laurence, and it was at this time that the current name of Château Grand-Corbin-Despagne was first used. It has not changed since. It was only after World War II that Paul Jean Despagne took on responsibility for the management of the estate. By this time he was already more than forty years old, and he was married, his spouse being Denise Marie Gasteuil (1909 – 1993). They had two sons, Jean Marie Joseph Guy Despagne, known as Guy and Pierre Gaston Gérard Despagne, known as Gérard.
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