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Christie’s offers most spectacular private wine collection ‘in a decade’

29 March 2023 By Arabella Mileham

Christie’s is presenting a two-part sale of wines from the private cellar of US businessman Irwin Kotovsky this month, which includes some the finest Bordeaux from 60’s 70’s and 80’s, multiple back vintages of Petrus and an array of mature white Burgundies including Domaine Leflaive.

The Two Continents Collection: The Private Cellar of Irwin Kotovsky will take place in two parts across two continents. The first part will run online from the Los Angeles office (bidding opens on 6 April) with a second part at Christie’s London in June.

The auction features 581 lots, including multiple cases of first growth Bordeaux from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, multiple back vintages of Petrus including 1962, 1966 and 1970, a number of cases of 1982 vintage Château La Lagune, Mature Sauternes, with Château d’Yquem back to the 1955 vintage and some exceptional vintages of Château Climens and Suduiraut from the 1950’s. It also includes an array of mature white Burgundy including multiple vintages of Domaine Leflaive, cases of Chevalier Montrachet from 1991, 1998 and 2004, and Krug, including multiple cases of the 1985, 1988 and 1990 vintages, as well bottles dating back to 1979.

The sale will also offer one of the largest private collection of Madeira ever to appear at Christie’s, including bottles of 1795 Terrantez, full cases of 1840 Malvasia Reserva Velha from Barbeito, and some ultra-rare 18^th century bottlings from William H Fearing.

Chris Munro, head of department, Americas Fine Wine & Spirits, described it as a “fabulous collection” of wines spanning four centuries. “This is truly a once in a decade auction,” he said – potentially “the finest Christie’s has presented since the sale of Cognac from the cellars of La Tour d’Argent more than a decade ago”.

Kotovsky, who owned a lighting business in Pittsburgh assembled his spectacular cellar throughout his lifetime, having developed a passion for wine during his travels in Europe and seeing it as “about engagement, entertainment and enjoyment”.