Left Bank made 'superb' wines in 2009
Buying en primeur 2009 may not be the answer for everyone - at least as far as the big-name chateaux like Latour, Mouton Rothschild and Cheval Blanc are concerned, according to one critic.
In an article for Reuters, Wine Review Online co-founder Robert Whitley said the "vintage of the century" comes along more often than its name may suggest, pointing to 2000, 2005 and 2009 as examples.
The districts of Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estephe and Graves all produced "superb" wines last year, he added, while many more of the less illustrious names made some of their best-ever produce.
For drinkers, rather than investors, the benefit of this is that the more obscure chateaux have less power to command price increases on the back of a great year - so enjoying excellent wine may not require such deep pockets in the future.
Mr Whitley founded Wine Review Online in 2005 after partnering with Washington Post columnist Michael Franz.