Best Sealant or Stain for new Yellow Pine Deck in the South?

New wood that has finally dried and ready for a stain. This home is in Western North Carolina and I can't decide if I want to do a clear coat sealant or add some subtle color with a transparent or semi-transparent stain. 

I tried a few samples of transparent cedar and redwood from Armstrong-Clark, but they came out sort of yellow/orange and not what I was expected.  Sort of looking for a nice subtle rich tone.  Perhaps even something that would make it look more exotic.  Also interested in the Defy Extreme Stain, in that they have a natural pine, redwood, and walnut tones.