LONDON – On 21 and 22 June, Christie’s London concluded the outstanding single-owner collection of wines and spirits by celebrated collector Irwin Kotovsky with The Two Continents Collection: The Private Cellar of Irwin Kotovsky Online: Part II and The Two Continents Collection: The Private Spirits Collection of Irwin Kotovsky Online: Part III, achieving a combined total of £1,389,976 / $1,770,830. This follows part I of the auction in April 2023 in Los Angeles, bringing the combined total for this extraordinary three-part collection to £2,473,394 / $3,114,267.

The Two Continents Collection: The Private Cellar of Irwin Kotovsky, Part II featured over 500 lots and represented the world’s most sought-after wines, attracting global participation with bidders and buyers from 19 countries. The sale was 98% sold by lot, and 36% of new registrants to the sale were millennials. The top lot of the spectacular collection were three bottles of Mixed Barbeito Madeira 1802-1915 which sold for £20,000 / $24,860 surpassing its estimate of £6,000-8,000. Another leading highlight was 12 bottles of Petrus 1983 which sold for £17,500 / $21,753.

Other notable results were achieved for a rarely seen 1955 vintage bottle of champagne from the world-renowned Clos de Goisses vineyard, which sold for £3,250 / $4,040. Rare vintages of Chevalier Montrachet sold for £11,250 / $13,984 (six bottles per lot), surpassing its estimate of £6,000-8,000.

The Two Continents Collection: The Private Spirits Collection of Irwin Kotovsky Online: Part III showcased one of the finest collections of rare spirits to come to market. Highlight lots of the sale included a bottle of Napoleon Maison de L’Empereur Palais de Compiegne 1802 which realised £20,000 / $24,860, ten times its estimate of £2,000-3,000, alongside a bottle of Cave Maxim’s Reserve Napoleon which sold for £17,500 / $21,753. Five bottles of Mixed J Bally Rhum (1950-1966) achieved £11,875 / $14,761.

An additional important section of the sale was one of the largest private collections of Chartreuse ever to appear at Christie’s. Two impressive bottles of Chartreuse Jaune Tarragone sold for £10,000 / $12,430, surpassing its estimate of £4,000-6,000.

Christopher Munro, VP, Head of Wine & Spirits Department, Americas and Noah May, Head of Wine & Spirits Department, EMEA: “The Private Spirits Collection Of Irwin Kotovsky Online sale was the final chapter of The Two Continents Collection, which achieved £2,473,394 / $3,114,267 globally. Part III was 100% sold by lot and 100% by value. These stellar results are testament to Irwin Kotovsky’s decades of connoisseurship and passion in the world of fine and rare wines and spirits. This was one of the most compelling collections we’ve encountered in recent years, with a scope ranging from mature vintages of Krug and Salon, to ancient Madeiras and Napoleonic Cognacs. Collectors responded with an enthusiasm which speaks to the collection’s singular qualities, our clients’ eye for quality and the collaboration of the Christie’s Global team.”