Never drink wine, but thats about to change

[Tyro]

My quest to find a new hobby has lead me to the apparently complex world of wine appreciation. I have no knowledge of wines, so what I plan on doing is reading the basics on tasting, then buying two bottles of the same category (Merlot perhaps?) and comparing how they are similar and different. I figure this way I can begin to build a basis on what makes a Merlot unique and then move on from there.

Does anyone know of two different brands of Merlot that would exemplify two different qualities of Merlot that I would be able to compare and get an idea of what Merlot has to offer? Due to limited funds, I'd like to stay with bottles under $20 and easily available in the US.

Many thanks-

Tyro