Recorking old vintages of Bordeaux wine is a "racket" that Anthony Barton wants no part of.

The owner of second and third growth chateaux Leoville Barton and Langoa Barton told the Drinks Business that he refuses all such requests from customers.

Barton also criticised the practice of customers topping up their bottles with wine from the same vintage and having them recorked, claiming it just means they want to sell them to unsuspecting buyers.

While the practice is legal, Mr Baton does not believe it is right as it provides a false representation of how the wine has aged. He added: "The poor auctioneer says it has a good level, but it's only been good for the last two weeks, not the last 20 years."

This follows comments from French critic Michel Bettane, who branded Bordeaux chateaux that pay for reviews "idiotic" and described the practice as a form of corruption.