As all wine-lovers will now be aware, Sotheby's is intending to auction an impressive selection of wines from the collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The creator of Phantom of the Opera and Cats has already had a major impact on the collectibles market in recent months having sold an important Picasso in London early in the summer.

The auction is to be held in Hong Kong, as Lloyd Webber has been paying attention to the rapid increase in the collectibles market in general and wine in particular in the region.

Those wines going under the hammer include a stunning 21 cases of Château Mouton Rothschild 2005, 10 cases of Château Lafite 2005, and two magnums of Domaine de la Romanée Conti. In total there are 748 lots which are expected to fetch $2.8-4.1m.

However, this is not the only major sale of wine Sotheby's is intending in that region.

Their Finest and Rarest Wines Featuring the Bordeaux Winebank 2000 Collection Part II is also scheduled and will feature an impressive array of classics:

These include Chateau Petrus 1982 with several cases tagged at HK$320,000-460,000 (up to $59,200) and is headed by Chateau Petrus 2000, listed at HK$550,000-900,000 (up to $116,000).

However perhaps the one to watch is Chateau Lafite 1982, estimated at HK$260,000-360,000.

Sotheby's Serena Sutcliffe is particularly impressed by this vintage, and importantly tips it to have a long life - a factor that wine investors must consider:

"Obviously, I have watched this great wine from birth and it is evolving slowly, in that inimitable Lafite way. In 2009, it has kept its intensely aromatic nose of enormous concentration - amazing when one considers the high yield of the vintage.

"Again, surprisingly, given the hot year, the taste is full of youthful acidity. Decant well in advance of drinking as it plumps out with every hour that passes, a sure indication of the very long life ahead of it."

Lafite has become the wine of choice in the Asian markets so the 1982 is an excellent investment. Sotheby's sale takes place on January 23 in Hong Kong.

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