I’m not quite sure how it started or why I picked up that first bottle of Marilyn Merlot wine back in the 90’s. What started as an impulse buy somehow grew to a collection that ranged for ten years. When I dug through the cellar recently, I realized that I had acquired eight vintages (not sure what happened to 98 or 01) with duplicate bottles of some years. After much prodding from my husband to clear some wine cellar space and realizing I had a few hundred dollars of sunk cost in this particular wine, I decided to host a vertical tasting for my friends.
The Marilyn wines begain in 1981, when a small group of Napa friends started making wine at their home in the Napa Valley. One evening in 1983, over dinner and a bottle of homemade wine, the “Marilyn Merlot” concept was born and the wines went on sale to the public in 1985.
Other than wine and art, I am not a collector (my husband would disagree and add expensive shoes to the list). No Hummel’s or figurines or themed knick knacks adorn my home. So, while I had no idea why I had started this particular collection, I was hopeful that a wine between $19 and $30 a bottle would be decent and it would be fun to taste the evolution.
So five of us gathered with some anticipation and began to taste. I planned to do tasting notes for the eight bottles that we tried beginning with 96. The wines were uniformly described in online reviews as tasting of chocolate, raspberries and blueberries and having an almost velvety mouth feel. That wasn’t our experience with a single bottle. In fact, most were undrinkable. Of the eight that we tasted, only the 97 was interesting enough to take another sip. It was just not good and I had two bottles of two different vintages that were both corked.
Now I could blame a few moves for the earlier bottle disappointment, but I’ve had proper Eurocave storage units since 2000, so I no excuse for the later vintages. My final tasting note after having the 04 and 05 was one simple word – no. Marilyn Monroe once said, “I think that when you are famous every weakness is exaggerated. Or, in my words, sometimes you can’t stand on celebrity.
So, a lesson was learned by me that day. Just say no to trendy collections. Do not buy wine affiliated with a celebrity unless you have personally validated it. And, the overall reality that I could have acquired a great Napa cabernet, a bottle of fine Italian wine or even a vintage second growth Bordeaux for the cost of ten bottles of Marilyn made me realize there would be no more meaningless relationships with celebrity wines in my future.
I have a collection of Marilyn Wines from 86 and on…Merlot
I also collected her Cabernet..
And Norma Jean from first vintages.
I would like to sell…Retiring and need to down size. All have been kept in boxes..pristine condition. Became a collector for her image only. First vintages were a French Vin d pays..certainly not age worthy. But it has been fun. All offers considered.
Cheers. The Wine Lady
Good luck!
Hi
I’m interested if the bottles are sealed 🙂
There should be a string of folks in the comment section that had collections. I know they would love to talk to you.
I’m interested in purchasing all the merlot years email me
Robert, Feel free to respond and email anyone that commented on the site. I just wrote about my experience. I don’t have them anymore from my end. I believe there are several comments on the site of people wishing to sell their collections.
I have all the vintages from 1998 to 2021 of both Marilyn Monroe and.Norma Jean Merlot. all sealed and store in a dry cool place. I have one bottle that was even bought at the Cal-Neva. Looking to sell, pm if interested
Good luck!
Do people generally collect these for the actual wine inside or because of the MM aspect? I guess I’m asking if they are still valuable at all if they were stored upright for a very long period of time which I assume hurts the wine quality?
I’m missing some years and have extra years of others.
Feel free to reach out on the comments. I have no idea what the market is (and if there is a market) for these wines.
My guess is the Marilyn Merlot nostalgia factor. After collecting them because I thought they were cool before I started learning about wine, I was very disappointed with what was inside.
I have a vertical of Marylin merlot and would like to sell. 1994-2003 with many doubles
You are welcome to post here. Good luck.
Hello,
Looking to sell collection. Earliest bottle is 1990. Stored properly. Mint or Near Mint.
Please check eBay for my listings.
Thank you.
Hi,
Have mint, sealed, one owner bottles of MM merlot if anyone is interested.
And Elvis.
Please contact: budgiethecommonpest@protonmail.com
Thank you.
To the dallaswinechick – I’m in California and was collecting these back before they got popular on eBay & did buy and sell there when it was possible. I used to go to Nova wines on Marilyn’s Bday & they open vintages of current and maybe a previous year. When they’re new or only a couple of years old they’re not a bad merlot, but that’s what people need to realize it’s Merlot and Merlot was not meant to hold. It started as a blending grape and if you’ve ever watched the movie bottle shock, not drinking F’n Merlot kinda took the varietal down a bit. The young Merlot they came out with later is not a good drinker and it’s a young vine so probably never will be a good drinker. The Cabernet they started doing is actually very good and you can hold these in a wine cabinet to drink later. Most California Cabernet won’t hold well over 8-10 unless you buy a big Cab. like Opus as an example. For anyone else reading with empty bottles, those can be sold on eBay. They sell for $10 – $20 empty.
Also, the creator of Marilyn Merlot sold the company a few years back. There are still collectors and they are still producing new bottles. I haven’t tasted the new vintages in some time & I don’t think they distribute through Nova , so no open tasting on her Bday that I know of. All of this being said I have many bottles, Merlot. Cabernet, and Maneater labeled. The Maneaters don’t have bar codes. They were given to family. friends, & charity events. If anyone is interested in buying bottles, or just wants more info.
I can be reached at ping_sharpy@yahoo.com
Thanks for keeping this post alive.
Consider Marilyn’s like baseball cards, they’re worth what someone will pay and how many are left in a condition someone is looking for.
Eric, you nailed it. There are some brilliant wines (including Merlots) that are made to last like Chateau Haut Brion, one of the world’s top wines. But Marilyn Merlot isn’t near that caliber. Thank you for all the great information and insight.
Good luck!
Good luck with the sale of your collection.
Would like to sell my Marilyns and Norma Jeans
1895,1989,1987,2000,2000,2001, 2001,2001
jimntari@gmail.com Vacaville CA.
You are welcome to post here, but I have nothing to do with buying and selling. I write about wine. I just happened to write about this subject. Good luck!
We have a collection of Marlin Merlot we are looking to sell. All or part.
You are welcome to try here, but this is a wine blog, not a retail site.
I have 1997, 2000, 2001,2006,1993 Marilyn Merlot & 2001 Norma Jean I’d like to sell . I’m in the Washington DC area .
You are welcome to try here. Again, this is not a place to sell wine. It’s a wine blog.
I have collection of Marilyn Monroe Merlot
Looking to sell all sealed mint condition
1985 to 1997
Steveaw3561@gmail.com
Steve, you are welcome to post here. This is a wine blog, not a retail outlet, and judging from the comments, there is much more supply than demand. Good luck!
We recently purchased 2003-2011 Marilyn Cabs for display, in our wine room. I’d be interested in years on either side, if you have something..let me know. The information on this site was very educational! Thanks for that!
Plindeman1915@gmail.com
Good luck. There appears to be many on here with inventory that should meet that need for you.
These wines aren’t supposed to be for drinking, that’s the point of collectible wines. Scarcity is the key. But people who do drink them (or try to) do all of us collectors a big favor everytime they take one out of circulation. We love that. By the way if anyone wants to by Normas or MMs hit me up. Silvasurfer515@yahoo.com. I even got a case, yep a case of unopened 1999 MMs for sale. Many thanks.
Frank,
Very solid point. Admittedly I was a novice when I started and the payoff for me is the actual wine, so I wasn’t the ideal collector for this one.
I have 1991, 1992, 1993 & 1994. They were great to display at my bar. Sadly, I must let them go to a new home. My email is tlsullivanct at yahoo dot com.
Thank you!!
Good luck. Again, I’m just a wine blog and not a retail site, but you all are welcome to contact each other directly.
I have 6 early bottles for sell
You are welcome to post here, but this is a blog, not a retail place that can help you.
I have the complete Vertical 1985-2019,Marilyn Merlot, plus duplicates of some years. any interest, jroberts4@icloud.com
You are welcome to post here. There’s a long list of comments of people who may be interested. I write a wine blog, but have no retail affiliation.
I also have collected over the years. Had the full vertical at one time. Once Ebay sales went away, interest seemed to as well. I have 2002, 3, & 4 of the magnum peek a boo. Still in plastic, never opened. Two years of the cab. Odds and ends of the 750 Marilyn’s. chateaunoname@msn.com. never bought to drink.
You are more than welcome to try here, but I am a blog, not a place to sell or acquire wines. Good luck.
Hello, I have been collecting MM wines for several years now. My mom recently purchased me a 2004 Velvet Collection one. It is unopened and still in the case. However, I already have one. I am looking to sell it if anyone is interested. Please email me at apdyer05@gmail.com. I can send pictures.
Good luck. Again stating this is a blog and not a place to sell wine. But you are welcome to see if you garner interest and handle.