The 2012 Bordeaux vintage will likely be of a higher standard than last year's harvest, an expert has stated.

Thierry Budin, managing director of the newly-expanded chateau Grands Crus, has said that he is expecting a better quality of wine this year, in spite of difficult challenges met by Bordeaux farmers.

"We are looking at harvesting a good vintage," he told The Drinks Business last week.

The winery, which has recently been acquired by the French bank Credit Agricole, is looking to commence its harvest within seven days.

Mr Budin also said that he was particularly surprised at the quality of the white grapes, but warned the unpredictable nature of the weather means that winemakers could "lose everything in a week".

Hail storms, heat waves and heavy rain over the summer has meant that conditions have been difficult for French farmers, with treatments against botrytis becoming a daily necessity this year in order to produce healthy fruit.

CA Grands Crus's red grape harvest is set to begin on September 25th at the company's Medoc estates, including chateaux Grand-Puy Ducasse, Meyney and Blaignan.

The collection of the white grapes is scheduled to begin on Monday (September 24th) at Chateau Philippe-le-Hardi in Burgundy, and Mr Budin stated that a viticulturist had already assured him of the vintage's potential.

The assertions appear to fall in line with predictions from other winemakers in the region, as well as the trade group Comite Interprofessional du Vin de Champagne, which last week said there was every chance that 2012 would be "a harvest of the highest quality".

Credit Agricole is set to continue the expansion of Grands Crus, having recently purchased a new concrete fermenter and invested 150,000 euros in an optical grape sorter for use on this year's harvest.