US$2m online wine sale is Christie’s biggest yet

Auctioneer Christie’s recent online fine wine sale realised over US$2 million, the highest total achieved in an e-commerce sale so far by the company.

The New York Wine Department announced that the sale of the Benjamin Ichinose collection held from 16-31 July totalled $2.3m overall, over 200% above the pre-sale low estimate and the biggest online sale the house has held since it launched its e-auctions a few years ago.

Among the top lots were old vintages of blue chip Bordeaux and Burgundy, including a Jeroboam of 1970 Romanée-Conti ($75,000); six bottles of 1971 Cuvée Vieilles Vignes Musigny from Comte de Vogüé ($43,750), a magnum of 1929 Château Mouton Rothschild and a further two bottles of 1929 Haut-Brion.

Bottles of 1961 claret from Lafite, Cos d’Estournel, Petrus, Ausone and Burgundy’s Armand Rousseau (Chambertin) were other leading lots alongside an imperial of 1973 Mouton Rothschild and six magnums of 1961 Bollinger R.D.

Among the collection were also bottles of top Champagne, Californian, German and fortified Portuguese wines.

Chris Munro, Head of Department, remarked: “This collection represented one of those rare opportunities to acquire great wines from an impeccable source, and our clients responded with enthusiasm. Well cellared, bought with strict guidance from importers and producers from a hugely knowledgeable and loved collector, we are delighted to report that nearly every bottle offered from this impeccable collection found a new home.

“The exceptionally strong results, including a number of world record prices, witnessed in this sale demonstrates the success of Christie’s Online platform’s ability to showcase important collections to the broadest possible global audience. This tremendous sale result is a fitting tribute to one of the wine world’s greatest collectors.”