Nearly 8,000 bottles from the wine collection of billionaire William ‘Bill’ Koch are set to be auctioned by Christie’s in New York over three days, commencing on June 12. The collection has a low estimate of $15 million (£11.2 million) and includes renowned Burgundy and Bordeaux wines that reflect Koch’s decades-long passion for fine wine.
Key highlights of the auction will feature notable wines such as a four-bottle lot of Mouton Rothschild 1945 and a six-magnum case of Petrus 1990, each expected to sell for $38,000 to $50,000. Additionally, more than 750 large-format bottles are included, featuring over 45 jeroboam and methuselah bottles from Burgundy’s prestigious Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Noteworthy lots include a three-litre jeroboam of DRC Montrachet 1986, estimated at $20,000 to $30,000, and a magnum of Henri Jayer’s Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1990, expected to reach $24,000 to $38,000.
Adam Bilbey, Christie’s global head of wine and spirits, lauded Koch’s commitment to building an exceptional wine cellar, describing it as one of the greatest of our time. Koch shared that the process of assembling this collection has brought him immense joy and acknowledges that there’s far more wine than he could ever consume.
Koch, who began his collection in the 1970s and 1980s, recalled the affordability of fine wines during that era. He remains an active figure in the fight against counterfeit fine wines and was a key witness in the Rudy Kurniawan trial in 2013.
This auction represents a significant return for Christie’s to the New York live wine auction scene amidst a challenging market, where fine wine prices have seen declines since late 2022. However, there remains a strong interest in rare wines with provenance, as evidenced by successful sales in Geneva, where each lot found a buyer.
This auction promises to be an exciting event for collectors and wine enthusiasts alike, highlighting the significant investments and stories tied to these esteemed bottles.
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