The Norma Jeane concept is really an opportunity to splash early publicity photos of Marilyn Monroe onto wine bottles. This series is released at a considerably lower price owning to the fact the wine is simpler. It does not receive the barrel treatment that the Marilyn Merlot series gets, and not the cellar treatment. However, it is always the case with Norma Jeane/Marilyn that the pictures are lovely and the youthful Norma Jean shines from the label in much the fun way the wines do from the glass. The vertical we are tasting this Saturday are young wines that are meant to be drunk in their youth, yet is should be interesting to see how the wines have evolved. Ultimately it is for collectors to fully appreciate these bottlings as both the Norma Jeane and the Marilyn Merlot series continue to attract a serious following.
Featured Wines:
2015 Norma Jeane Merlot, Paso Robles, 10.99
In this photo by Bruno Bernard, you see a 20-year-old Norma Jeane with an eager smile and wide eyes, doing pinup poses with a very un-pinup expression. This was from Bernard Bruno’s first sitting with her in 1949 and it got Norma Jeane her first studio screen test and motion picture contract. 85 points by Wine Enthusiast magazine and Bronze Award at the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
2014 Norma Jeane Merlot, Paso Robles, 25.00
Marilyn appears on the cover of the magazine Personal Romance wearing a red striped blouse and a ship captain’s hat in this photo taken by Bruno Bernard. Marilyn once remarked "Remember Bruno, everything started with you!" as he took some of the earliest photos of Marilyn. GOLD MEDAL at the 2016 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
2013 Norma Jeane Merlot, California, 25.00
The photo on the label was taken by Bernard Bruno (also known as Bernard of Hollywood) and it shows Norma Jeane in one of their earliest sittings. This young Merlot displayed on release the characteristics the company strives for: softer tannins, lower alcohol, and fresh fruit favors. We’ll see how it holds up three years after harvest.
2012 Norma Jeane Merlot, Lodi, 25.00
Soft tannins, lower alcohol, and fresh fruit flavors are the hallmarks of this series. This 2012 Norma Jeane wine is rich in color with dark berry flavors. This is another photo was taken by Bruno Bernard. The wine won a Bronze Award 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
2011 Norma Jeane Merlot, California, 39.00
Bruno Bernard took this photo in 1949 at the Palm Springs Racquet Club, with Norma Jeane playfully posing on a diving board above shimmering water the color of her bathing suit. It was during this photo shoot that she was introduced to the Hollywood agent Johnny Hyde, who secured a role for her in The Asphalt Jungle, leading to her fame as Marilyn Monroe. In 2013, this bottling won a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy at 88 points.
2010 Norma Jeane Merlot, Paso Robles, 29.00
The label for this 2010 vintage is graced by a 1940's photo of Norma Jeane making an entrance in a shimmering gown, and perfectly captures her vivacious charm, not unlike the wine in the bottle.
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