Cheap Merlots or Pinot Noirs for the Beginner?

[zenda2]

Welcome! Let me suggest a few bargain red wines that I buy over and over - they're usually less than $12 locally, some as low as $6 when I catch a sale. None of these may 'wow' the experts, but I never regret buying/drinking them.

Laurel Glen REDS and Terra Rosa malbec
Jadot or Louis Tete Beaujolais-Villages
Cru Beaujolais (Fleurie, Morgon, etc...)
Tiziano or Placido Chianti
Bogle 'Old Vines' zinfandel
Goats Do Roam
Guigal or Perrin Reserve Cotes du Rhone
Rosenbloom 'Vintners Cuvee' Zinfandel
Alamos or Trapiche Malbec
Hedges C-M-S
Borsao Tinto
A Mano Primitivo
Falesco Vitiano
Francis Coppola 'Rosso'
Mairetta Old Vine red

"Party reds" = quite inexpensive but tasty
Woodbridge zinfandel
La Ville Ferme rouge
Rosemont diamond shiraz/grenache
Delicato Shiraz
Cuvee du Pena

You'll notice a lot of red blends above. That's no coinkydink. Most good winemakers can make a tasty blend at a reasonable price.

I'm not a big merlot drinker - but I buy Christian Mouix merlot (Bordeaux) Columbia Crest 'Grand Estates' and Bogle merlot to keep on hand for my friends who are.
The best value I can find in Pinot Noir is Latour, Drohin and Jadot Bourgogne (rouge) - which is 'generic' burgundy made of Pinot Noir. Tasty, and you avoid a lot of the 'Sideways' pinot frenzy.