Christie’s wine and spirits department in London recently wrapped up its latest live auction titled “A Legacy Preserved: The Last Treasures of The Avery Collection” on Friday, June 7th, at Christie’s King Street.
This unique sale showcased an impressive selection of wines from the late John Avery MW, a prominent wine merchant who passed away in 2012, as well as from his father, Ronald Avery, who managed the family vintners before him.
This auction represents the final offering from the Avery family cellar, following a previous sale held by Christie’s in 2016. Featured wines included prestigious labels such as Petrus, McWilliams, and Penfold’s, along with notable Californian wines from Mondavi and Heitz.
The auction consisted of 993 lots, all of which sold successfully, both in terms of quantity and value. Noah May, head of the wine & spirits department at Christie’s EMEA, described the event as “hugely successful,” noting that it exceeded high expectations by generating a total of £2,567,675.
May emphasized the significance of this auction in honoring the legendary cellar and the Avery family’s lasting impact on the UK wine trade. A standout highlight from the sale was lot 476, featuring two bottles of Clos de Tart Grand Cru 1945, which sold for an astonishing £43,750, far surpassing its estimated value of £2,000-£3,000. May attributed the remarkable bidding to the rarity of historic vintages from this Grand Cru Monopole, particularly the celebrated 1945 vintage.
According to Liv-ex co-founder Justin Gibbs, the 1945 bottles are exceptionally rare and possess impeccable provenance, further enhancing their desirability. Other notable transactions included twelve bottles of Petrus, Pomerol 1990, which fetched £37,500; a magnum of Château Latour Premier Cru Classe, Pauillac 1961, which sold for £25,000 against an estimate of £4,000-£6,000; and a magnum of Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, Musigny Grand Cru, Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 1947, which realized £23,750, exceeding its estimate of £5,000-£8,000.
