Marilyn Merlot is one of California's best-known collectible-label wines. Since its first commercial vintage, the 1985 Napa Valley Merlot released in 1987, its labels have featured images of Marilyn Monroe, and collectors have sought out the vintages, labels and special bottlings ever since.
Aabalat offers an extensive selection of collectible back vintages, assembled over many years of acquiring bottles from private collectors: Marilyn Merlot from nearly every vintage since 1985, Norma Jeane California Merlot, Marilyn Cabernet, Meritage and Sauvignon Blonde, Marilyn Monroe sparkling wines, etched bottles and large formats.
Rare Marilyn Wines with Founder Provenance
Marilyn Merlot began with Bob and Donna Holder, who made wine at home in Napa Valley in the early 1980s before launching Marilyn Merlot with the 1985 vintage. After the Holders sold Marilyn Wines, Aabalat acquired the remaining bottles from their personal cellar.
These founder-held wines are a distinctive part of a much larger Marilyn selection that we have built through acquisitions from many collectors. Most bottles on this page come from other collections, and we are happy to discuss the provenance of any wine.
Early Maneater Bottlings
Before Marilyn Merlot, the Holders and their friends bottled home wines under the Maneater name. From the Holders' cellar we offer the 1981 Maneater "Cannibal Sauvignon" and "Thin Zin", and the 1983 and 1984 Marilyn Merlot Maneater, including 3-liter bottles. These early bottlings predate the first commercial Marilyn Merlot vintage and are offered as historical collector pieces rather than as regular commercial releases.
Large-Format Collector Pieces
The Holders' cellar also included a 3-liter bottle of the 1986 Marilyn Merlot. In our experience, these founder-held 3-liter bottles are rarely encountered; we had not seen them offered publicly before acquiring them. Our wider selection also includes etched large formats and the 2002 and 2003 Velvet Collection sets of 750 ml, 1.5-liter and 3-liter bottles.
Collecting Marilyn Wines
Collectors pursue Marilyn Wines in many ways: a favorite vintage or label image, a vertical run of consecutive years, etched bottles and large formats, or complete Velvet Collection sets. Label condition matters to many collectors, so bottles with visibly marked labels or capsules are listed separately as "Scratch and Dent," an economical way to fill a gap in a vertical.
Collectible Value and Drinking Quality
Many of these wines are now decades old, and their appeal lies largely in the label, vintage and history. Whether an older bottle remains enjoyable to drink depends on how it has been stored, so we describe condition as accurately as we can and do not present older vintages as guaranteed drinking wines. Sold-out vintages remain listed for reference and are marked "Sold Out."
Explore the Marilyn Family
Marilyn Merlot · Norma Jeane · Marilyn Monroe sparkling & white · Marilyn Cabernet · Marilyn Meritage · Sauvignon Blonde · Maneater
Related: Novelty Wines · Merlot · Napa Valley
Collectors
We welcome inquiries from collectors. If you own Marilyn Wines, from a single bottle to a larger collection, and would like to discuss them, please contact Aabalat.