Leading French wine critic Michel Bettane has blasted the "corruption" that exists in the world of wine reviewing.

Mr Bettane says that some producers are offering €2,000 (£1,700) to influential critics in order for a review of their wine, an act he dismisses as "idiotic".

The Drinks Business reports Mr Bettane as saying: "They really shouldn't be doing this.

"If 'critics' accept compensation for tasting wines, then I don't believe them to be true critics. Corruption exists quite obviously in the wine world today."

Mr Bettane did not reveal which producers or critics have been involved in these kinds of practices.

He went on to suggest that soon China will develop a critic who wields as much influence as Robert Parker, whose Bordeaux scores can make or break a vineyard's year, it is believed.

Parker himself recently played down his supposed influence, suggesting it had been blown out of all proportion.