Wine broker FINE+RARE has criticised the allocations for Bordeaux 2009 by negociants in France, urging them to review their distribution system by next year.

The broker has asked the Bordelais to discuss plans for "fairer distribution" of stock, claiming it has been overlooked in the 2009 campaign, decanter.com reports.

FINE+RARE chief executive officer Mark Bedini told the website: "The negociants are not interested in knowing anything about our business.

"They are supposed to be distributing the wines so they are properly spread throughout the market but they have let their consumers down."

Due to the exceptional quality of Bordeaux 2009, demand has been higher than ever this year, with some negociants claiming they have had to pare down allocations.

Prices have similarly been eyebrow-raisingly high, with chateau Cos d'Estournel 2009 selling at a 233 per cent mark-up on the previous year.

Meanwhile, chateaux Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild have been sold to wine merchants at €550 (£456) per bottle.