Can anybody recommend a nice red wine for beginners?

Lots of great reds out there, but you have to acquire the taste for it. Just keep trying and don't believe you have to pay the earth. Remember to uncork it about an hour before you intend to drink it and keep it at room temperature.

Suggest Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot for beginners.

Fleurie, the first red wine that I ever really liked, many, many years ago!

try any of the McGuigan reds available in Morrisons and Asda ,around £7 a bottle sometimes less,I used to buy this from a wine club for over £10 a bottle not so long ago and its a lovely fruity smooth wine...I dont like strong tannins .I think you can buy it on Amazon too

Cuvee du Roy Rouge, Vin de Pays Cotes de Gascogne £5.76

I get my wine from a local and longstanding wine merchant who delivers free within 40 or so miles of Nottingham if spending more than £45, and free national delivery if spending more than £95. I don't buy expensive wine, and I have never been disappointed. They are the family of the author Geoffrey Trease!

www.weaverswines.com/

It is a very personal taste thing but i would say do not go for the really cheap stuff - In UK I usually spend about £7 a bottle unless in Lidl or Aldi where they have reasonable wine for good prices. Theirs tend to be Argentine/Chile wines etc rather than French/Australian but are very nice wines.
We tend to drink a good Bordeaux, Merlot or similar. A good wine does need to be uncorked for about 30-60 mins before drinking - otherwise the flavour is not right.