Dear Tomhorn
Absolutly according with you, for me Ribera del Duero is the best, second is (very nice too) Rioja, and after some wines from Burdeaux, but Ribera del Duero is the delicattesen, for exemple, Abadia, Protos, Tamaron, and of course the best is Vega Sicilia, the most important is you can drink and tested a very good wine for a reasonable prices from €10 to 15, the quality is the best.
Talking about wines of California, have you tried the wines from Chile? if not, i think you must.
Cheers