THE widow of Alan Clark is selling off hundreds of bottles of wine found in the cellar of their home in Saltwood Castle.

More than 400 bottles of fine wine will be sold at a London auction on October 20.

The 40-lot collection is expected to fetch more than £40,000 and includes some sought-after wines.

The bottles were offered for sale by Mr Clark’s widow, Jane, six years after the former MP died, aged 71.

Mr Clark held the posts of trade minister, employment minister and defence minister under Margaret Thatcher, but it was the publication of his diaries for which he became best known.

The bottles were part of the collection amassed at the family home and were stored in the undercroft wine cellars at the heart of the castle.

Wine specialists from Christie’s auctioneers visited the castle to retrieve the valuable bottles.

Head of Christie’s wine department David Elswood said: "We are proud to give bidders the opportunity to acquire wines from the cellar of a truly unique collector.

"Alan Clark was a passionate man – in his family life, throughout his political career as a diarist – and it is no surprise that his passion also extended to the world of fine wines."

Among the valuable cases are 12 bottles of 1961 Chateau Palmer, expected to fetch between £6,000 and £8,000 and the equally pricey 1967 Chateau d’Yquem.