Grape-lovers' bottle bank

The three most expensive lots at a Sotheby's sale of top wines in London were snapped up by anonymous Hong Kong businessmen.

One paid $250,800 for a Methuselah (eight times the size of a normal bottle) of burgundy, a Romanee Conti 1990 - described by wine writer Barry Burton as 'the rarest of rare wines'. A case of Le Pin 1985 - a 'cult wine,' said Mr Burton - went for $121,440, while six magnums of Chateau Latour 1959 fetched $118,800.

'They have obtained extremely rare items. They may have bought the '59 because it was the year of birth of their wives - or mistresses,' Mr Burton said.