Over to Betsy’s sister’s on Christmas Day, low key family brunch gathering with a sausage/egg/croissant casserole, beet cured salmon, spinach salad. Not really a match, but I wanted to do one special red over Christmas, so double-decanted a 1989 Pichon Lalande. Great showing, elegant, seamless, cassis and black cherry framed with espresso and cedar. Long, lovely. A- (really a waste, half left, but hey it was brunch, really hope someone finished).

That night ham with mustard glaze, Brussels sprouts, sweet potato.The 2011 Rapet Beaune Greves was a rather light take on the vineyard, sweet red cherry and a touch of smoke, pretty rather than deep, drink up. B

Monday SF style Vietnamese-American noodles with shrimp, and baby bok choy. 1998 Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Leohnan). Good acids, more SB than Semillon character, some nutty notes emerging and finish a bit short, some fun stuff here but not to hold. B-

No wine Tuesday with salmon, broccoli, and rice.

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.