Many Burgundy wines are best enjoyed by the wine lover, not the wine investor.

This is the view expressed by Jean Noel Christ of Burgundy negociants Labour-Roi, a firm that likes its wines to reflect their origins.

Much of Burgundy consists of small family-owned estates that produce their vintages in small amounts and make little impact on the investment market, Mr Christ told China Daily.

Wine critic Zhang Xiang spent time in the Labour-Roi cellar, tasting as number of different Burgundy wines.

Highlights included a 2006 Corton Charlemagne, with its "intense aromas of toffee and truffles mingled with beautiful acidity". Mr Christ said of the 2006 Corton Charlemagne: "This is a wine for a wine lover, not an investor."

Also singled out for praise was the "compelling" 2008 Gevrey Chambertin.

2009 looks set to be an excellent vintage for Burgundy, as wine merchants are seeing extremely high levels of interest in the en primeur release, the Drinks Business reported last week.