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Marilyn Merlot

Review by Dave 16 Comments

Marilyn-MerlotMarilyn Merlot released their first vintage in 1985. However, the story begins a few years prior. owners Bob & Donna Holder moved to the Napa Valley from Berkeley in 1978. Neither were involved in wine at the time (Bob was a CPA and Donna worked at the historic St. Helena High School). It wasn’t long before the Napa allure eventually cast its wine spell over them. Along with a few friends, they began making home wine in 1980 (starting with one barrel).

Oddly, they started calling this home wine Cannibal Sauvignon – never produced it commercially and named the brand Maneater – one of their friends even designed the catchy label. Too bad they didn’t stumble across the name of one of the historic Rancho’s in Napa – Carne Humana. This all would have tied in perfectly with their original home wine.

Several years later they bottled their own home made Merlot and as good ideas often happen, was over a glass of wine. They came upon this name after drinking some of their own Merlot at dinner one evening (it was Donna who suggested this name). By that time, Holders also had some firsthand knowledge of the wine business. And in the early 1980’s they also became partners for the first time in a commercial wine venture – Manzanita Cellars.

Their first vintage was from 1985 – made from purchased bulk wine – this was 2,500 cases. With such a catchy name and using images of Marilyn Merlot (after getting the licensing rights from the estate of Marilyn Merlot) – the wines started to gain a variety of notoriety and publicity. One of their vintages was even highlighted in Life Magazine.

grapes-napa (39) The wine has been a phenomenal success and is now a true collector’s wine. Some of their earliest vintages are often fetching up to several thousand dollars per bottle. Each vintage has a different image of Marilyn Monroe on the label. Marilyn Merlot was their first wine although today they make several different wines.

The ultimate collector within a collector’s wine is the Velvet Collection series. The first vintage dates from 2005; they stopped making this wine in 2012. A set of 10 very sexy sultry nude photos of Marilyn were taken in 1949 and each vintage has one of these photos on the label. We have seen some interesting labels during our Napa winery odyssey but this one takes the cake. Each label is a nude photo of Marilyn (covered appropriately for the label), and has what they call a “peel and peak” protective plastic layer which when removed reveals the entire un-covered photo! Each of these wines is only available in 1.5 liters and comes in its own special box and package. This is collector wine at its best.

And this is not the only collectible series of Marilyn Merlot made – like baseball cards, different wines with different Marilyn themes have been produced over the years.

The release date of all wines is always June 1st – Marilyn’s birthday and each vintage usually sells out rather quickly. Their Norma Jean wines are very affordably priced and are marketed as “A Young Merlot” and features photos of a young Norma Jean before she took the name Marilyn Monroe. This is the only wine to feature non Napa fruit (the vineyard source is near the historic town of French Camp in California’s central valley).

All other fruit is sourced from premium vineyards near the towns of Rutherford & Yountville including from the Beckstoffer Vineyards. We tried the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon which was among some of the older “current” releases that we have tried. Extra age is not a bad thing when it comes to wine! There are pleasant toasty characteristics on the nose which continues to the palate with nice fruit, hints of chocolate and a smoky intense long finish. As with most of their other current releases, this wine is priced quite affordably.

All the wines for the Marilyn Merlot label are made at the famed Napa Wine Co along Highway 29. You can even taste these at Napa Wine Co’s Cult Tasting room which is open to the public by walk-in. And unlike most Napa wineries – they do have older vintages for sale via their website. For more information and or to join their mailing list, visit: www.marilynwines.com

NOTE: this review has been identified as needing a major update.

Filed Under: Reviews

Comments

  1. Glenn Griffith says

    July 17, 2015 at 8:32 pm

    I have one bottle of the 1986 Merlot. Does this have collector interest/value?

    Reply
  2. Sharon Fenech says

    September 28, 2016 at 10:13 am

    I have 4 large framed pictures to match the bottles. I have the Norma Jean in the red and white bikini, the Marilyn Merlot in the white tank top, big white floppy hat, and white dress in field. Are these pictures of rare and what are they worth?

    Reply
  3. Kelly Fawks says

    October 22, 2017 at 10:27 pm

    I have a unopened bottle I believe the year is 99 where she has the red and white umbrella… could someone let me know what the value is or potentially could be for this item. It’s very dear to me and hard to part with I bought it when it first initially made its debut. I’m just trying to find out more information about this.

    Reply
  4. Ila says

    November 13, 2017 at 8:24 am

    I have unopened the following Marilyn Merlots if anyone has interest:

    1986

    1990

    1992

    Reply
  5. Dave says

    March 19, 2018 at 1:29 pm

    Check out their website for some of the pricing of their collector vintages and older wines – they often have many older vintages for sale through the website.

    Reply
  6. Carl Ennis says

    April 24, 2018 at 8:56 am

    I have a complete vertical of Marilyn Merlot, Norma Jean and the full Cabernet series 1&2 as well as a 1983 Maneater. Any interest in purchasing?

    Reply
    • Chine says

      June 1, 2018 at 1:37 am

      Carl Ennis: I’m interested. Please email me at chinecc89@gmail.com

      Thank you

      Reply
  7. David says

    July 28, 2018 at 4:03 pm

    I have a rather large Marilyn Merlot collection I want to sell. I can be reached at dbowling5@gmail.com

    Thanks!

    David

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      November 9, 2019 at 4:19 pm

      Do u have a 1981 Marilyn Monroe bottle of wine if so please email me at manducci85@hotmail.com

      Reply
  8. Benjamin says

    September 27, 2018 at 6:31 pm

    I have several bottles of several vintages of this Marilyn Merlot wine. I would like to sell all of it or part of it. Please message me if you’re interested.

    Reply
  9. Jana says

    November 15, 2018 at 9:27 am

    I have 4 unopened bottles:
    1995
    1996
    1997
    2001

    Interested in selling. Please contact me.

    Reply
  10. Brenda says

    January 29, 2019 at 9:20 am

    I have a Collection of Marilyn Merlot of 26 Bottles ranging in years from 1989 to 2011 and one 2003 Velvet Collection. Also a 10 bottle collection of Norma Jeane from 1998 to 2011. (Reasonably priced)
    All must go together and must pick up in Dallas, TX.
    If you are interested contact me via bks.tx2018@gmail.com

    Reply
  11. Jamie Simpson says

    May 11, 2019 at 9:44 pm

    I have 31 bottles available starting at 1994. Various collections in this category of Marilyn merlot. Very interesting story Dave. Thanks for sharing.
    If anyone’s interested, text me at 8433278369

    Reply
  12. Keith Benfield says

    July 26, 2019 at 2:40 pm

    I have a Marilyn Merlot Vertical 1986 – 2016. Every year, excellent shape, perfectly stored. Entire collection for sale. If interested contact me at kbenfield@att.net

    Reply
  13. Harry Polos says

    September 13, 2019 at 9:08 am

    I have the following Marilyn wines for sale at great prices. Email for costs.all 750ml Marilyn Merlot
    1986,1987,1988,1989,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,2004
    Norma Jeane
    1998,1999,2004

    Reply
  14. Tom Grosman says

    October 29, 2019 at 4:39 pm

    Tom says
    I have 2 complete sets of the Marilyn Merlot, 1985-2009, the first 25 bottles for sale. Each set must go together and must be picked up in Michigan. I also have the Velvet Collection, 3 bottle set, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
    If you are interested please contact me at
    broncotg-mmwine@yahoo.com.

    Reply

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Quick Info

Marilyn Merlot

www.marilynwines.com

Phone: 963-5475

Hours: N/A

Open to Public: Private
(You can taste at Napa Wine Co)

Appointments: No

Regular Tours: No

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