Sweeney’s Wine Merchants in Glasnevin, Dublin, hold regular wine tastings on their mezzanine floor. A dozen or so of the regulars, including myself, have been socialising together for several years, whether for meals in town or tasting events arranged at each others’ houses (see Glasnevin Fizz Fest).
For our 2013 Xmas meal we descended upon Beirut Express on Dame Street in Dublin – not because we all adore Lebanese food (though I am a fan myself), but rather because they only charge €3 corkage which is perfect for winos on a budget!
Here is a selection of the bottles we enjoyed last night – and apologies for the poor image quality. My personal favourites were the Chateau Musar and the Yalumba Botrytised Viognier.
![Champagne Veuve Monsigny](http://frankstero.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/champagne-veuve-monsigny.jpg?w=225&resize=225%2C300)
![Piccini Memoro](http://frankstero.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/piccini-memoro.jpg?w=225&resize=225%2C300)
![Tim Adams Clare Valley Riesling](http://frankstero.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/tim-adams-clare-valley-riesling.jpg?w=225&resize=225%2C300)
![Von Winning Riesling](http://frankstero.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/von-winning-riesling.jpg?w=225&resize=225%2C300)
![Mader Alsace Gewurztraminer](http://frankstero.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/mader-alsace-gewurztraminer.jpg?w=225&resize=225%2C300)
![Margaret River Pierro](http://frankstero.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/margaret-river-pierro.jpg?w=225&resize=225%2C300)
![Craggy Range Te Muna Road Riesling](http://frankstero.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/craggy-range-te-muna-road-riesling.jpg?w=225&resize=225%2C300)
![Chateau Musar 2004](http://frankstero.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/chateau-musar-2004.jpg?w=225&resize=225%2C300)
![Chateau Gales Graves Rouge](http://frankstero.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/chateau-gales-graves-rouge.jpg?w=225&resize=225%2C300)
![Salento Primitivo](http://frankstero.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/salento-primitivo.jpg?w=225&resize=225%2C300)
![Jean Claude Mas Les Faisses](http://frankstero.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/jean-claude-mas-les-faisses.jpg?w=225&resize=225%2C300)
![Yalumba Botrytis Viognier](http://frankstero.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/yalumba-botrytis-viognier.jpg?w=225&resize=225%2C300)
![Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux](http://frankstero.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/premieres-cotes-de-bordeaux.jpg?w=225&resize=225%2C300)