2005 Marques de Caceres Rioja (Crianza)

This baby Caceres, the budget-line Crianza, was found at Trader Joe's for about $14 and it's a solid, polished, and well-balanced Rioja for the money. It displays everything a red-wine drinker would like: tobacco, dark fruits, some light oak, but also offers the versatility for food-pairing of some heavier whites because of the lack of tannins and its fresh acidity. Between pizza and a stuffed flounder, no problems, just tasty with no 'metallic(a)' effect after the fish. No wonder Rioja is one of my favorites wine-producing regions: there's something tasty for every price point and every style (austere to modern) preference. The "crianza" means it spends the least time in oak compared to Reserva and Gran Reserva Riojas. Salud!
88/100
Bottom line: A Crianza Rioja remains balanced, priced right, and versatile with food.

2006 Copain L'Hiver (Syrah)

Copain has consistently made some of my favorite Syrahs from California. While Guthrie, the wine-maker, tends to draw on a variety of leased and contracted grape parcels from producers around the state, his style is a balanced mix of Old World (pepper) and New (blueberry/occasionally some cola flavors). The latest release of l'hiver, his budget-minded Syrah from Mendocino, shows the coolness and low alcohol of the 2006 growing season as it rings it only at 13.7% abv. And that made it fair game tonight with the stuffed salmon with garlic fries that we enjoyed with it. It worked. Great aromas of blueberry, sassafrass, and some creamy notes coming through from the oak and lees on this 06. The palate was nice, a little fat, but balanced with good acidity (thank you Mendocino). It didn't do much in the glass after 30 minutes, but that may change tomorrow...will update. Day 1: 89/100. Day 2, Thanksgiving, with lamb? 90/100 updated score. Yep, even better on the second night.