The harvest has begun at a few properties in Burgundy, and the verdict for appreciators of Coche Dury and Domaine Leflaive appears to be that this year's wine will be "good, but not great".

Following a dry spring, Burgundy received three times as much rain in July and August than it would in a typical year, Decanter reports, creating problems with rot and accordingly a predicted 20 per cent drop in yields.

Some wines may also need to undergo chaptalisation, the process of adding sugar to raise alcohol levels after fermentation.

Not all vintners are pessimistic about the expected quality of the wine this year - Marie-Andree Mugneret of Domaine Mugnaret-Gibourg told the publication that her grapes are "healthy and with fine ripeness".

Meanwhile, Jacques Lardiere, winemaking director at Louis Jadot, said he believes 2011 will be a better vintage than 2007, the last year with comparable weather conditions.

Additionally, white grapes are not expected to be affected by the rot, and Jean-Charles Le Bault de la Moriniere of Domaine Bonneau du Martray said he anticipates a fine year for whites.

In August, Courgis wine grower Olivier de Moor told Reuters that the signs of a troublesome year for Burgundy began in January and February, when there was already a water deficit of 20 per cent.

He told the news agency: "The warm and dry soil had its influence.

"The growth of the vines seemed difficult and the plants looked more puny than usual. The microbiological activity that nourishes the vine must have suffered from the lack of water."

Vineyards in Burgundy are constructed to deal with a surplus of water, rather than with the extreme heat seen in the Mediterranean, he explained.

Mr De Moor went on to say that the Burgundy system may be due for a review, as plants are too low and rows too dense, and winegrowers may even need to re-examine which grape varieties they are using.