Wine merchants expect sales of 2010 Bordeaux en primeur to be strong, despite the ongoing popularity of the 2009 vintage.

Chateau owners in Bordeaux have been unable to decide whether the 2010 wines are better than the 2009s, Decanter reports, but merchants suggest the two years have produced very different bottles.

It is this dissimilarity that will create a market for another excellent Bordeaux vintage, they believe.

Simon Davies of FINE + RARE told the publication that 2010 Bordeaux is the "non-identical twin" of 2009, commenting: "You can't have one without the other."

As the debate over the merits of 2009 and 2010 Bordeaux rumbles on, wine expert James Lawther recently claimed that it is too early to tell which will eventually be considered the superior vintage.

He did suggest, however, that 2010 Bordeaux appears to be "fresher" than its predecessor, with extra acidity making it likely to age more favourably.