There are still a few ways to drink like a king on the wage of a pauper. Admittedly, the Asian-fueled wine boom is making life very difficult for Claret lovers who take issue with spending more than a £1,000 for a bottle of 2009 Bordeaux. OK, so maybe the price of Château Lafite Rothschild is an exception, but such is the inflation amid Bordeaux's top wines that for many traditional buyers, I suspect the prices the châteaux command have become irrelevant; many of them have simply opted to spend their money elsewhere.