Smart thinking, Jack. We’ve had 3 DUI checkpoints in Lompoc over the last 5 days. This guy obviously wasn’t as wise as you.
I’m in the same boat. Bring two reds and a white for each of three nights. Hate to bring too nice of juice, because I’m about the only one who will appreciate it. Also, what we don’t finish, we leave behind.
Will probably bring some Navarro chards. Great value, very good wine. That’s the whites.
Reds?.. Some mid-range Oregon PN that will go with everything - maybe a couple Chehalems (had a 2000 Ridgecrest last night - very nice) or a couple of Panther Creeks with some age; maybe a couple bottles of 03 Mondot, as I love the wine and it is a comparative steal; maybe a couple of Zins just to liven things up - Turley Old Vines or the like.
Now for my birthday, also over the holidays, we’ll go to my favorite local place which also has favorable corkage - so I’ll probably grab an older Quilceda Creek or a younger Scarecrow!
It looks like Xmas dinner will be prime rib or the like, so I might open a 1996 Torbreck Run Rig or a 1991 Phelps Insignia.
Bruce
We’ll start with cheap cava for mimosas.
And then follow that with Saint Nicolas Pinot 06, from the Atlantic end of the Loire.
Sounds like an appropriate choice.
As I have only drank 3 times in the last 6 months, I will be opening a bottle of Salon that a good friend gave to me and possibly a real nice bottle of Chateau Mouton.
At least when you drink, Dave, you drink well!
Why the sabbatical?
cab/bdx and lots of it
porterhouse steaks on Christmas eve and prime rib on Christmas
dietz doesn’t eat salsa, just blended tomatoes, cilantro, and onions. 
Not a bad first post Dave! I will have to call you a “baller” though! In good context of course 
Cheers, enjoy the wines and happy holidays.
Whatever I feel like drinking that will go with the meal.
There was a time I made sure to have “extra special bottles” for Christmas/New Year meals - especially the dinners with my immediate family. Then, “extra special” meant rarefied and name/vintage-droppable.
I stopped doing that around 9 years ago - it wasn’t really about the cost, it’s just that I felt the practise detracted somewhat from the true spirit of these get-togethers - it seemed I was focusing too much on the wine than just basking in the company of my immediate family with good food and drink.
I realized that it’s not the wine that makes the celebration, rather, it is the company and occasion that uplift any decent bottle. I’d had it ass-backwards for years. These rarefied wines/vintages can be enjoyed anytime - the company of all one’s nearest and dearest on Christmas cannot.
Since then, for Christmas, it’s whatever I have on hand that goes best with the dinner and the evening’s “feel”. If it is/includes a bottle given by a good friend, so much the better.
Great to see you here Dave. I was just thinking of you. Happy holidays. How is Dr. Goldfinger? 
Jack
Blended? Isn’t that tomato sauce, then?
My daughter is heading off for a semester at the Univeristy of Melbourne, so in her honor we’ll be opening a maggie of 1998 Yarra Yerring Red Wine #1 to go with the roast pork 3 ways. 1990 Deutz Cuvee William to start and a cheap white for my mother in law!
Just had an 06 Clio with some friends and family. It was delicious.
Opened an '05 KB Kanzler with our roast beef. Really, really nice. Silky, rich, gorgeous cherry fruit, and a perfect balance of acid. I’m sure I’ll open some other stuff tomorrow with the larger family group.
Sorrel with white rum, to go with the steamed fish, jerk pork, mannish wata, and curried goat at my friend’s house in Jamaica. Their house is about 15 minutes from Negril, where I’m currently staying.
Thanks to Randy Sloan we had a very nice mag. of his wine today
Thanks Randy and have a great trip!
Five of us are putting a huge dent in an imperial of la volte 1999 which is stunning for the price. 120 for 6 bottles!!! Nice funk bright fruit. Over all great drinking Wine with duck
Le Volte…awesome juice nearly every year. 2007 is a star.
Drank
2007 Selbach Riesling Piesporter Michelsberg
2008 Hesketh Riesling Scissorhands
1995 Montus Madiran Prestige (magnum)
Then had a Yeungling Black and Tan.
For my birthday I had opened a 1990 Chateau d’Yquem and served it with paté de foie gras on hard toast. The Yquem was slightly corked and tasted rather weak as a consequence. Tonight I repeated the course but with the 2003 Lafaurie-Peyraguey. My son (not into wine) said “You know, I think this tastes better than last time.” I said “It’s about ten times better.” I have always liked Lafaurie-Peyraguey but this wine was singing, honey-rich and nuanced and beautiful a stunner. I suppose the 2003 vintage was pretty spectacular for Sauternes and while a youngster I found it awfully satisfying.
Also “left over” from the birthday was a bottle of 1996 Ch. Montrose that was also in a very good place, served with beef filet. At the end of the meal I brought out Stilton and a very good NV Taylor-Fladgate Port that everyone really enjoyed. I don’t remember the exact one but it had a kind of black on black “1” on the label. I can edit this later if anyone wants to know. Bottle is downstairs still.