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

[Jerry D Mead]

Try Clos Du Bois...very popular...tends to be the classic definition of a softer, easier to drink red.

Sterling 1997 Merlot (make sure you get the 97...there's a new winemaker making a big difference)...a bolder, more intense style with greater extraction...closer to Cabernet Sauvignon stylistically.

Both have fruit flavors in the cherry range...but at different levels of intensity and the Sterling has a background of bittersweet chocolate.

If you want to add an under $10 selection...try Monterra from California or any of a number of Chilean selections your merchant might recommend.