Wine enthusiasts making their first foray into the world of fine and rare Bordeaux and Burgundy vintages have been some helpful advice by an eminent expert.

Writing for Wine Spectator, critic Matt Kramer explains that despite what wine novices are often told, enjoying a bottle does not necessarily mean it is good.

Mr Kramer agrees that individuals should only drink wines that they enjoy but adds that consumers should not automatically assume that translates into a top investment opportunity.

In addition, the critic says that making comparisons between wines is the only way to develop a palate capable of understanding what "good" is.

"Whether you do so in the structured environment of a wine-tasting class or just at home with a couple of bottles of the same type of wine, you have to make comparisons in order to know better from worse," he writes.

The Hong Kong Standard recently advised drinkers exploring Barolo and Barbaresco for the first time that they should think in terms of the producer's style, rather than looking for regional differences.