LONDON – Christie’s Wine & Spirits department is pleased to announce three London sales in June, comprising the Finest and Rarest Wines and Spirits live auction from 6-7 June; The Two Continents Collection - The Private Cellar of Irwin Kotovsky part II, taking place online from 8-21 June; and The Two Continents Collection: The Private Spirits Collection of Irwin Kotovsky Part III, online from 8-22 June.  These two online sales follow the outstanding results in April from part I of the sale in Los Angeles which achieved sell-through rates of 100% by lot and 124% hammer above low estimate.

Presented over two days, The Finest and Rarest Wines and Spirits live sale will include an array of prestigious wines including two magnums of 1999 Chambertin, Clos de Bèze from the notable Domaine Armand Rousseau (estimate: £14,000 – 18,000), alongside 2009 Musigny from Domaine Jadot (twelve bottles per lot, estimate: £6,000-8,500). A key lot of the sale is an 1883 bottle of Smith’s Glenlivet whisky (estimate £30,000-40,000), one of the oldest bottles Christie’s has offered in many years. Additional notable lots include one magnum of Vosne Romanée, Cros Parantoux 1978 from the iconic Domaine Henri Jayer (estimate: £60,000 – 80,000), and La Tâche 1999 wine from the exceptional Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (six bottles per lot, estimate: £30,000-40,000).

The sale will also offer an impressive collection of three magnums of The Milestone Collection from Viñedo Chadwick in Chile (estimate: £3,000-4,200).  

The Two Continents Collection - The Private Cellar of Irwin Kotovsky, part II will feature over 600 lots representing the world’s most sought-after wines from the personal collection of Mr. Kotovsky, a passionate collector, who assembled a spectacular cellar over his lifetime.

The prestigious collection will be highlighted by some of the finest mature Bordeaux ever crafted; including multiple cases of 1st growths from vintages spanning the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s. Six bottles of Cos d'Estournel 1955 will be offered (estimate: £1,800-2,400) in addition to Malaga Vino Dulce Trasanejo 1800 (six bottles per lot, estimate: £3,000-4,200). The sale will showcase multiple cases of 1982 vintage Château La Lagune, a personal favourite for Irwin (estimate: £600-£850). Champagne from the world-renowned Clos de Goisses vineyard will feature including the rarely seen 1955 vintage (one bottle per lot, estimate: £2,000-3,000) in addition to exquisite Krug 1988 Champagne (three bottles per lot, estimate: £1,800-2,400).

Mature Sauternes will feature with the exceptionally rare 1955 vintage Château d’Yquem (estimate: £500-700) and some exceptional vintages of Châteaux Climens and Suduiraut from the 1930s. A remarkable feature of the sale is the vast array of exceptional white Burgundy including Domaine Leflaive, considered one of the finest producers of white Burgundy, offered in multiple vintages from the greatest sites (six bottles per lot, estimate: £6,000-8,000). Rare vintages of Chevalier Montrachet also feature, (six bottles per lot, estimate: £6,000-8,000).

To conclude the series of Irwin Kotovsky auctions with the Part III sale, Christie’s is thrilled to present one of the finest collections of rare spirits to come to market. The scope of the varied collection is significant, ranging from bottles of superb Black Bowmore Single Malt Scotch whisky distilled in 1964 (estimate: £15,000-20,000), rare Armagnac from legendary producers including Laberdolive 1946 (estimate: £500-700), and a notable 1900 vintage Lheraud Grande Champagne cognac (estimate: £1,000-1,500). Further highlights include a 1929 vintage J. Bally Rhum Vieux Agricole (estimate: £1,000-1,500).

An additional important section of the sale is one of the largest private collections of Chartreuse ever to appear at Christie’s. This offering presents rare bottles from most decades of the 20th century, including French bottlings and the incredibly rare Tarragona bottlings of Yellow and Green Chartreuse. This is a once-a-decade opportunity for collectors to acquire bottles of this inimitable liqueur, including Chartreuse Jaune Tarragone 1904-1930 (estimate: £3,000-4,000).

Noah May, Head of Christie’s Wine & Spirits Department: “This June, with auctions in London and online, collectors will have chance to acquire an exceptional variety of highly desirable wine and spirits. Following the incredible results from The Two Continents Collection - The Private Cellar of Irwin Kotovsky part I in Los Angeles, we are proud to conclude the sale of this superb single-owner collection in London with parts II and III, which will offer a truly exciting and impressive selection of the best wines and spirits globally.”

Last month, Christie’s Wine & Spirits department held its first 2023 Wine sale out of King Street in London, which achieved sell-through rates of 86% by lot and 88% by value. A key lot of the sale was a hand-crafted collector’s cabinet including twelve historic bottles of vintage Graham’s Port, in celebration of their bicentenary collection, which sold for £31,250.