What began as a fanciful idea at a Napa Valley dinner party has become – 20 vintages later – a success story as compelling as that of its legendary namesake. Marilyn Merlot, which had its debut with the vintage of 1985, brought together the iconic image of Marilyn Monroe and merlot grown in Napa Valley.
The 2004 vintage of Marilyn Merlot, released on Monroe’s birthday Thursday (she would have been 80 this year) is touted by the winemakers to be the finest and most collectible wine of the series. Wine experts over the years have generally considered the wine itself as fair to very good, especially later vintages, but few have raved about it. The bottle is definitely the thing.
The annual release of Marilyn Merlot is a much-anticipated event for fans of Marilyn Monroe and wine collectors. “Each newly released vintage sells out within a few months,” said Bob Holder, one of the owners of Marilyn Wines.
Marilyn Merlot has long been one of the fastest-appreciating wines in value over the years, with 12-bottle sets of the 1985 through 1996 vintages selling on the collector market today for as much as $7,500.
Every vintage of Marilyn Merlot features a dramatic photo of the legendary star, and the Sam Shaw photo portrait on the 2004 vintage of Marilyn Merlot was taken in 1953. It features Monroe in a gown she wore in the movie “How to Marry a Millionaire,” in which she starred with Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall.
Grapes for the wine were grown entirely in Napa Valley, a blend of 90 percent merlot and 10 percent cabernet sauvignon. The suggested retail price of Marilyn Merlot 2004 is $26.
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