I started with a sweet corn empanada with goat cheese and a tomato salad, followed by Uruguayan filet with braised onions and red wine sauce on a Cabrales tart. I also sampled crab meat tortillas, calamari, and "duck two ways" (breast and then confit/lentil/plantain salad), hanger steak, spinach, and green/sweet plantains. Pretty good food.
Wine was the 1988 Ch. Cantemerle (Haut-Medoc). Good fill and a good showing. Red and black plum fruit, a little leather, tobacco, and a big gravelly earth bite to the finish. A bit of slightly raspy tannin still remaining, fairly acidic, good length. I'd have guessed Graves blind I think. Good showing for a fairly cheap Bordeaux, and fun to share a birthyear wine with Dave. B+
NB probably someone with no sentimentality would give a B
I actually meant to order a glass of Albarino (or a Bobal rose) to have with my appetizer, but forgot, and it wasn't worth it once food was in front of me.
We skipped dessert, but the ladies got tea, while Dave got a Laphroaig 15 Year (he's spent last 2 years in Scotland). Didn't want him drinking alone, so I had a glass of the Cossart Gordon 10 Year Bual. I'm not a big Madeira drinker, but enjoyed this. Raisiny, with a little mocha note and a touch of pecan nuttiness. Fairly sweet, but not cloying. I don't mind oxidative notes in sweet wines. B????
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. 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.