‘Incredible’ results for Avery family cellar

Christie’s auction of the Avery family’s fine wine cellar in London this week saw “incredible results”, according to the auctioneer.

At the request of the Avery family the total amount raised during the 11-hour sale on 20 October was not revealed but the collection was 95% sold by value and the final figure was “high” according to Christie’s.

Over 150 bidders were registered for the sale, a record for Christie’s at a fine wine sale, and there was “competitive” bidding for an impressive array of fine and rare treasures, one Michael Broadbent MW described beforehand as, “undoubtedly one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of old and rare wine ever to appear at auction.”

Highlights included £38,000 for a case of 1945 Château Latour; £20,570 for 12-bottles of 1995 Petrus; three bottles of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1985 La Tâche went for £11,495 and four bottles of Armand Rousseau’s 1990 Chambertin made a further 9,680. A full case of Château Montelena 1974 made £1,936.