Château Méaume is an estate winery in the commune of Maransin on the right bank of the Bordeaux region not far from Libourne and the Saint-Emilion region. It was purchased by Alan Johnson-Hill (a 38 year old Englishman who previously had spent 20 years in Hong Kong working for a Chinese real estate company) in 1979 with his wife Sue and their three daughters. Johnson-Hill got the idea via a chance meeting with Nick Ryman of Château de la Jaubertie.

The debut 1980 vintage was a poor year in Bordeaux but via the renewal of both vines and winery–and advice from Michel Rolland–the estate found its financial feet, the1983 vintage gaining Alan and Château Méaume critical acclaim. Red wines are made under the Bordeaux Supérieur Rouge AOC.

Contact: Mark and Sandra Johnson-Hill.

Vineyards: 100ha (250 acres) of land of which 40ha (100 acres) are vines.

Wines

Bordeaux Supérieur Rouge AOC, Château Méaume

Bibliography

Sue Jamieson, ‘L’Invasion Anglaise,’ Wine Magazine, April 1995, p.32-34.