Château Meaume
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Château Méaume is an estate in the Bordeaux Supérieur AOC, located in Maransin and managed by the Johnson-Hill family. It practices sustainable viticulture across 38 hectares of clay-limestone soils, producing red wines aged in vats or oak barrels.
Identity
Château Méaume is located in the commune of Maransin.
History and philosophy
Château Méaume was modernised in 1978 by Alan and Sue Johnson-Hill. The estate has since been managed by the Johnson-Hill family, with Mark and Sandra Johnson-Hill as the current owners. The property operates as a mixed-use farm, combining vineyards, woodland, pastures and livestock farming.
Today, the estate draws inspiration from organic farming and practices sustainable viticulture. It avoids synthetic chemical inputs and favours cover crops between the vine rows. Special attention is given to preserving biodiversity through woodlands, pastures, century-old oaks, hedgerows, wildflower meadows and beehives.
Appellations
The wines of Château Méaume are produced under the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation. The estate is located in Maransin, around 15 km from the Pomerol appellation.
Practical information
Château Méaume is located in Maransin, 33230. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 5 57 49 41 04 or by email at chateaumeaume@orange.fr or info@chateaumeaume.com. Cellar tours and tastings are available by prior appointment. Vertical tastings are also possible, spanning 47 consecutive vintages from 1977 to 2023. Guests staying at the estate's holiday cottage enjoy complimentary tastings.
The property features a charming 18th-century holiday cottage that accommodates up to eight guests across four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The cottage is equipped with a fully fitted kitchen, a dining room, a living room with a fireplace, and a terrace.
Château Méaume offers wine tourism activities including harvest experiences, hand-picking, sorting and stomping the grapes, as well as barrel tastings. The best period to take part in the harvest is generally from late September to early October.
Find out more
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Château Meaume located and what is its surface area?
- Château Meaume is located in the commune of Maransin. Its vineyard covers 38 hectares. The estate also includes 30 hectares of woodland, enhancing the property's biodiversity. The terroir is predominantly clay-limestone. This diverse structure combines vineyards, woodland, pastures and livestock farming, reflecting a mixed farming approach.
- Which grape varieties are used in the wines of Château Meaume?
- The wines of Château Meaume are predominantly made from Merlot, which accounts for 90% of the plantings. Cabernet Franc makes up 8% of the grape varieties, and Cabernet Sauvignon represents 2%. These grape varieties are cultivated on a clay-limestone terroir. The addition of a small proportion of Malbec to the blend is planned over the next ten years to further diversify the wines' aromatic profile.
- What sustainable viticulture practices are carried out at Château Meaume?
- Château Meaume draws inspiration from organic methods and practices sustainable viticulture. The estate avoids the use of synthetic chemicals and favours cover crops between the vine rows. Special care is taken to preserve biodiversity through woodlands, pastures, century-old oaks, hedgerows, wildflower meadows and beehives, creating a rich and balanced ecosystem.
- What wine tourism activities does Château Meaume offer?
- Château Meaume offers a range of wine tourism experiences. Visitors can take part in the grape harvest, including hand-picking, sorting and stomping, generally from late September to early October. Barrel tastings are also available. The estate features a charming 18th-century holiday cottage for accommodation and provides cellar tours and tastings by appointment, including vertical tastings covering numerous vintages.
The vineyard (terroir)
The vineyard spans 38 hectares on clay-limestone soils. The estate also includes 30 hectares of woodland, which enhances the property's biodiversity. The main grape varieties are Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Flagship cuvées
The primary cuvée, Château Méaume, is a Merlot-dominant red wine. Its typical blend consists of 90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine boasts a classic Bordeaux style, with a structure offering an ageing potential of 5 to 10 years, extending beyond 15 years for the finest vintages.
The estate also crafts the Réserve du Château cuvée. In 2019, a special edition named Château Méaume Rugby Legends Edition was produced from the Réserve du Château. A small proportion of Malbec is planned for inclusion in the blend over the next ten years.
Vinification and ageing
Château Méaume ages its flagship cuvée, Château Méaume, for at least two years in vats. The Réserve du Château cuvée is aged in French oak barrels.
- Appellations
- Bordeaux Supérieur, Pomerol
- Commune
- Maransin
- Wine region
- Bordeaux & Bordeaux Supérieur
- Owner
- Mark et Sandra
- Technical direction
- Bruno
- Surface area
- 38 ha
- Second wine
- Réserve du Château
- Grape varieties
- Merlot 90%, Cabernet Franc 8%, Cabernet Sauvignon 2%
Estate news
06 August 2026
Bordeaux to Allow Sweetening of Wines
Le Conseil des appellations Bordeaux et Bordeaux Supérieur a approuvé le 26 juin 2026 une modification des règles autorisant l'ajout de sucre résiduel jusqu'à 7 grammes par litre après fermentation dans les vins de tous styles, incluant les rouges, rosés et blancs. Cette décision marque un tournant par rapport à la tradition bordelaise des vins entièrement secs, et intervient suite à une réglementation plus large de l'INAO permettant l'édulcoration des vins tranquilles d'AOC sous certaines conditions. Auparavant, cette pratique était principalement réservée aux vins IGP et Vin de France. Les partisans de cette mesure, notamment les négociants axés sur l'exportation et les préférences changeantes des consommateurs, estiment que des vins légèrement plus doux pourraient attirer de nouveaux publics. En revanche, de nombreux viticulteurs craignent que ce changement ne dilue l'identité de Bordeaux et n'encourage une dérive générale vers des styles plus sucrés. Des producteurs des Côtes-du-Rhône suivent également de près cette évolution, craignant des répercussions similaires sur leurs propres marchés et traditions. L'article mentionne le Château Méaume Matured Bordeaux Supérieur dans une liste d'articles connexes, sans qu'il soit directement concerné par la nouvelle réglementation décrite.
Read the source — winedrinker.co.ukPractical information
- Address
- Ch. Méaume, 33230 Maransin
- Phone
- +33 5 57 49 41 04
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Visits
- Oui