Josh Cellars Merlot
Merlot · California
$14.99
Showing image 1 of 1: Candoni Merlot 750 Ml front bottle
Candoni Merlot
Candoni · Sicily · Italy
$8.99
Currently out of stock — similar wines you can buy today are listed below.
Why it’s a great value
It carries a verified 87-point score from Beverage Testing Institute / Tastings.com at a price under $25. The next step up in the same style, Josh Cellars Merlot, is $14.99.
Taste profile
SweetnessDry → Sweet
BodyLight → Full
Acidity*Soft → Bright
Tannin*Silky → Grippy
Oak*None → Bold
Fruit*Subtle → Intense
* WineDiscounts editorial estimate based on verified tasting notes.
What it tastes like
A round, dry Merlot with black cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, plus a mild savory note of plum, herbs and leather.
You’ll like this if…
Choose this if you want a softer, fruit-forward red that feels smoother than many Cabernet Sauvignons.
Why buy it
It gives shoppers an approachable Italian Merlot with organic grapes, screwcap convenience, and easy dinner pairing flexibility.
Best for
Red-sauce pasta, lasagna, mushrooms, burgers, cheese boards, and casual dinners.
Style
Dry, medium-to-full-bodied, fruit-forward Italian Merlot with soft tannins and a round finish.
Drinks like
Softer New World Merlot, entry-level Sicilian reds, and lighter Cabernet-Merlot blends.
Experience level
Beginner-friendly, with enough savory detail for regular Merlot drinkers.
Flavor notes
Pairs well with
aged or blue cheese · mushroom dishes · pasta with red fruit or tomato-based sauce · lasagna or meat loaf · baked ham
Best occasions
Serving & enjoying
- Serving temperature:
- Serve around 60-65°F; Candoni specifically recommends 64.4°F.
- Decanting:
- Not required; a brief splash in the glass is enough.
- Glassware:
- Clear red-wine goblet or Cabernet/Merlot glass.
- Drink or cellar:
- Enjoy the current release now, especially with food.
- After opening:
- Best within 2-3 days, recorked and kept cool.
Guidance partly estimated by WineDiscounts from the wine’s style.
About this wine
Candoni Organic Merlot is a dry Italian red from Sicily's Terre Siciliane IGP, made from organic Merlot. It is aromatic and fruit-driven, with blackberry, cherry and blackcurrant flavors, a round feel and a lightly savory edge that suits cheese, mushrooms and red-sauced dishes.
Wine details
- Type
- red
- Varietal
- Merlot
- Grapes
- 100% Organic Merlot
- Producer
- Candoni
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Sicily
- Appellation
- Terre Siciliane IGP
- Bottle size
- 750 Ml
- ABV
- 14%
Details last verified September 25, 2026
Explore
Winemaking details ›
- Winemaker:
- Armando De Zan
- Vineyard source:
- Organic Merlot grown for Candoni's Terre Siciliane IGP bottling in Sicily.
- Vessel:
- Temperature-controlled red-wine fermentation; vessel not specified.
About the winery · Candoni ›
Candoni is part of the Candoni De Zan family group, an Italian wine family with roots in winemaking dating back to the late 1800s. The family emphasizes quality, integrity, and wines selected from different Italian regions. In the U.S. market, the wines are represented by Arel Group and distributed in New Jersey by Regal Wine Imports. Candoni's organic line includes certified organic wines and is presented as vegan and gluten free.
Critic reviews
87/100Beverage Testing Institute / Tastings.com
“Rated 87 points, Silver Medal, Best Buy; described as dry, rich and full, with plum, leather, cherry and herbs, and suggested for baked ham, meat loaf and lasagna.”
Trade up
$14.99Josh Cellars Merlot
Merlot · California
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Candoni Merlot dry or sweet?
- Candoni Merlot is bone dry — its sweetness rating is 1 on our 1 (bone dry) to 5 (sweet) scale. It is medium-to-full bodied.
- What does Candoni Merlot taste like?
- A round, dry Merlot with black cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, plus a mild savory note of plum, herbs and leather.
- What food pairs with Candoni Merlot?
- It pairs well with Aged or blue cheese, Mushroom dishes, Pasta with red fruit or tomato-based sauce, Lasagna or meat loaf and Baked ham.
- How should I serve Candoni Merlot?
- Serve at Serve around 60-65°F; Candoni specifically recommends 64.4°F. Not required; a brief splash in the glass is enough. Glass: Clear red-wine goblet or Cabernet/Merlot glass.
- Is Candoni Merlot a good value?
- At $8.99 it carries a verified 87-point score from Beverage Testing Institute / Tastings.com; the review is shown on this page.
- What is the bottle size and alcohol content of Candoni Merlot?
- 750 ml bottle, 14% alcohol by volume.