In one of our recent shipments from A Taste of California, we received two different types of Merlot to try: Pendula Cellars 2002 and Austin Hayes 2004.

My husband and I have a joke when we do this sort of wine comparison that the second bottle always tastes better than the first, and normally we tend to agree on which of two we like the best, but on a recent wine tasting we had at home, we had a difference of opinion.

We tried the Austin Hayes first, and that was Michael's favorite of the two. According to the club's website: The wine is deep purple in color with aromas of blackberry and spice. Ripe jammy flavors of plum and black current are carried through a velvety finish. I think that is a very accurate description.

The second bottle we tried was a 2002 Pendula Cellars Merlot, and I guess it must be popular (and of course this was my favorite of the two) because when I checked on the club's website, I couldn't find it listed any more. For me, it was very similar to the Austin Hayes but a little more musky and dry, which I liked.

Both wines tasted great, and while, yes, they were your typical Merlot, I felt they were a little fuller bodied than your usual Merlot.