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You might recognize the photo on the label of this new vintage of wine. It is the now-classic nude portrait of Marilyn Monroe curled up, kitten-like -- an image so alluring that Hugh Hefner made it Playboy's first Centerfold in 1953. This particular bottle is part of a limited-edition series commemorating the "Red Velvet" photo shoots by photographer Tom Kelley. A clear plastic overlay covers portions of Marilyn's body, but that can be removed once you get the wine home.
While the bottle was designed from the start to be a collector's item, the value shot up considerably after a wine warehouse fire in Vallejo, California destroyed a large portion of the Velvet Collection inventory earlier this year. Stores currently sell a 1.5-liter bottle for $225.
The wine, made in Oakville, California, is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (55 percent) and merlot (45 percent). We could describe the lush fruit, ripe berries and soft tannins for you, but we know no one's buying this for the juice. It's either displayed on a shelf in perpetuity, shared with fans of Marilyn and Playboy, or re-sold for even more cash. Good luck finding a bottle.
-- James Oliver Cury
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