Mark's 45th birthday dinner

Mark kindly opened his cellar to some stunning wines to celebrate his 45th which we dutifully consumed!

While we gathered and inspected the many bottles on the table we enjoyed a couple of Champagnes from Graham who got to celebrate his birthday a day early and received a hangover as a present

• NV Guy Charlemagne Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Réserve Brut 89 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Fresh and sprightly, quite a good weight. Mousse feels a little aggressive.

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• NV Hugues Godmé Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs 91 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Well rounded, the pinot noir gives it a good body.

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Speak for themselves

• 1997 Château Ausone 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Beautiful complex nose - which actual had a long finish in its own right! Some hints of the tobacco and leather to come. Palate is slightly less impressive, boy has sone chewiness. Great finish though.
  
  Dried out a little over the evening.

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• 1992 Henschke Shiraz Hill of Grace 97 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  Nose is a little....some licquorice. More on the palate which is awesome. Finish goes on so long and then sone more.
  
  Later nose showed some bacon and that finish just kept on giving.

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• 1998 Penfolds Shiraz RWT 92 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Eucalyptus, hint of mint. Palate is up front with some unrefined tannins.

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• 1998 Penfolds Grange 95 Points

  Australia, South Australia

  Restrained nose, some eucalyptus. Palate is showing lots of fruit - small berries - and some smoke. It's tannic but they're well integrated. Finish continues but at a lower level, more lingers.

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• 2006 Kaesler Shiraz Old Bastard 93 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  A little fumey nose. Palate is fresh fruit, tannins are not showing at all.
  
  Was a little alcoholic later.

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An broad church - fantastic to think the grapes of the Rivesaltes were growing as France was being liberated!

The Bomfim was an extra has we hadn't had enough!

• 1945 Pierre Janny Rivesaltes Vieil Homme 93 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Rivesaltes

  Brown! Obviously aged. Very mellow, little dried fruit. Surprisingly fresh.

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• 1966 Graham Porto Vintage 96 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Nose is a bit fumey, but the palate is lovely - awesome. So intense, there's a concentrated dried fruit, almost candied. With a wonderful deep,malingering finish.

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• 1988 Dow Porto Vintage Quinta do Bomfim

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Surprisingly fruity - sorry but it was the end of a long evening!

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The Hill of Grace was definitely the wine of the night but the Grange and the Graham's put up a strong fight.

We also had a bloody good laugh. Some of the highlights below:

"Was it your birthday this year "
"This is the one before the next one"
"97 is the year between '96 and '98"
"layered as Johnny Depp"
"i had forgotten what it was like to pick up a man" followed by "grabbed some balls"