American wine guru Robert Parker, who doesn't seem to share the enthusiasm of Liv-ex traders, has slammed the "aristocrats of the Medoc" on his bulletin board for "pride, provincial jealousies, and greed" in their pricing policies, reports Decanter.com.

Following conversations with buyers and sellers, the influential critic posted a vitriolic attack on his website, www.wineadvocate.com . He accused the chateaux of "devising a multitude of ways to manipulate the marketplace by creating the illusion of shortages" in continually holding back from releasing their wines and prices in the 2005 en primeur campaign.

"By dragging this process into mid-June, they may well be killing the golden goose, all because of pride, provincial jealousies, and greed," he said. A Decanter.com poll shows that 58% of respondents do not plan to buy any 2005 futures at all.

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