I would remark that it looks like the party started early and laugh. I would offer the remainder of the bottle to the other guests. Finally, I would make a mental note not to invite them to a future birthday party.

What is a crown year? I’m unfamiliar with that phrase.

So long as they didn’t drive to my party, I don’t have much of an issue with pre-partying.

I’m cool – As long as they make up for it bringing me a really expensive gift.

I’d make a joke:
“Glad to see you let it breathe on the way over”.
“What did the sommelier say when he opened it last night?”
“I didn’t know drinknig half was a new way of decanting”.

And then like @Hawaii_Jake I would make note to never invite them to anything ever again.

Did they offer it s as a gift or just a contribution to the festivities?

And what is a crown year indeed?

It’s my birthday, so I doubt I threw the party (I do my best to ignore birthdays). Therefore, the reception of the gift would be for whoever sponsored the party to deal with. I have no issue.

I’d say, “Thank you so much, but I’d rather have a kitten.”

I wouldn’t drink any.

I ask them if they would like a glass.

Never touch the stuff. Go buy some beer.

Typically crown year birthdays are celebrated by children. How old are you in this hypothetical odd question?

Why would a child bring a bottle of wine to a child anyway?

Crown year = a round number/milestone.
Say, 25, or 50.
Maybe 18 (vote), or 21 (drink).

-
Thanks for playing, guys and galls.
You all are very chill, in my opinion.
No need for my follow up question, which would have been the same, but added that it was half a bottle of Chateau Lafitte ‘61.

ehhhhh, 93 points for a 1961. I prefer the newer vintages.

@rebbel My question still is, how was it presented? “Here’s a gift or I’ve opened this great bottle of wine and would like to share some?”

Reminds me when my brother used to buy me scratch off lottery tickets for my birthday. Already scratched off. And saying, sorry, you didn’t win.
I wouldn’t drink any. Especially if they didn’t have a glass with them. Makes me think they may have been drinking out of the bottle.

I’m easy, I‘d be delighted somebody brought me something. Unless it was presented in a rude or snide manner, That I don’t do so well with.

And @rebbel, thanks for “crown year”! I love that designation!

@janbb It would have been presented as a gift, accompanied by the saying “Congratulations, we brought you something.”

@chyna I love that gesture from your brother; going to use that one day and present it to my kid brother!

@rebbel Then that’s pathetic, I think. I would probably come up with a line much, much later like, “You mean you brought me half of something!”

@canidmajor You are welcome!
It’s something that is used in the Netherlands, although I’m not sure how widely.

@rebbel Okay, that’s totally different than prepartying. That’s just…weird.

Since you said it would be presented as a gift, I’d just take it and thank them, and put it on the table to the side. I might laugh it off. I wouldn’t be upset about it or anything, as I’m really ok without gifts. If I were a child, I’d be upset if I didn’t get a gift but as a mature adult, I’m not demanding or requesting gifts.

@raum What is?

@rebbel I have a further question: Did this happen to you or are you planning to do it to a friend? Or just a hypothetical? :-)

If you are planning to do it, you might want to read the chapter in Winnie-the-Pooh where Winnie brings Eeyore a birthday present. It’s a balloon in a pot but it pops on the way and all Eeyore gets is a Useful Pot to Put Things In.

Neither, @janbb.
Question just popped up.

It that book also in audio format?
I don’t like to read long, difficult stories.

Not difficult at all but I’m sure it’s available in audio. If not, call me up and I’ll read it to you as a bedtime story. We used to read it aloud in my birth family.

@rebbel Presenting the half bottle as a present.

@janbb That would be an interesting retirement source of income, “Bedtime stories from @janbb.”

Beter than subscribing to Calm or Breethe

@zenvelo Are you saying my voice is a soporific?

^^^^^ @janbb calming and soothing.

^^ Ok, I’ll take that. What would you like to hear – Winnie the Pooh or David Copperfield?

We jerks demand fresh wine! ;p

@rebbel Here’s Chapter 1 in a pretty good reading:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDKLaYBHo2E

@janbb Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons

^ Sounds good.

@Brian1946: Your video clip reminds me of when I overhear people in bakeries or at a deli, asking the clerk “is it fresh?” Like, what do you want the clerk to say? “No, it’s stale.”