While the Bordeaux 2010 en primeur prices may have raised a few hackles within the industry, one wine writer has maintained that some buyers still see the purchase of high-quality wines as a good investment.

Tom Cannavan, the broadcaster who launched wine-pages.com in 1995, said many people have wine as part of their investment portfolios, although he warned that only a "handful" of top Bordeaux chateaux have shown continuous year-on-year growth.

These include the first growths of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau Mouton Rothschild, he went on to say.

"Beyond that you have to hedge your bets – if it doesn't make money you want to be able to drink the wine and enjoy it. It may make money, but not [always]," added Mr Cannavan.

Prominent wine critic Robert Parker recently told Agence France-Presse that the high en primeur prices of Bordeaux 2010 risk alienating the US market.