Food & Wine

France's Château Angelus estate, renowned for its vintages, expands into hospitality

- TERRY ZARIKIAN

ACCORDING TO THE Angelus archives, at the end of the 18th century, Jean de Boüard de Laforest settled in Saint-Émilion. A property map from 1910 refers to a house, vineyards and a large vegetable garden. In one of the highest areas of the vineyard—a sector the family had not planted at the time—sat a small plot of old vines renowned for their exceptional quality. This would become Angelus. At the beginning of the 20th century, Jean's descendant Maurice de Boüard de Laforest inherited the estate, adding a 7.5-acre enclosure in 1920.

Château Angelus takes its name from the Angelus prayer, which resonated particularly well in this natural amphitheater. The site amplified the sound of bells from three surrounding churches, which marked the rhythm of vineyard work morning, noon and evening. Less than a mile from the famous Saint-Émilion bell tower, Château Angelus has been the life's work of eight generations of the Boüard de Laforest family. In 1945, Maurice left it to his sons, Jacques and Christian, who ran the estate until 1985, when Jacques' son, Hubert de Boüard de Laforest, took over.

FROM LEFT Chai Carillon winery at Château d'Angelus; the estate