Background

Château de la Ligne Cuvée Prestige 2005 is made on a property owned by Belfast businessman Terry Cross.

Cross, who purchased the property on St. Patrick’s Day, 2000, now joins the growing list of Irish Wine Geese, those who have left these shores to make wine.

2005 vintage

2005 was a bumper vintage, hailed as the best ever in Bordeaux. That is until the 2009, which is still in barrels and the subject of the usual price speculation and hype. However, back to 2005, a near perfect year in weather terms and grape growing conditions in Bordeaux. It wasn’t just the big names with big prices who benefited. Many smaller, more accessible producers also exploited the vintage to make excellent wines.

Château de la Ligne Cuvée Prestige 2005

Classic Bordeaux style, lean, slightly austere and everything in balance. It’s not one of the big names and that’s a good thing for your wallet. Château de la Ligne Cuvée Prestige 2005 is an example of where you kind some real value.

However, this is still a “tight” wine, it could do with another 3-5 years in the bottle before showing what it can really do and by that stage you probably won’t find any of it about. If you have the space and the patience, this is an ideal wine to start a cellar with.

Availability

• €17 from the Cellar Master, 18 Maple Avenue, Stillorgan Industrial Park, Dublin 18
• €18 from O’Briens (buy online)