MadisonBelmar
@madisonbelmar.bsky.social
Retired attorney. Law, politics, history, wine, track & field, NY Mets, NJ Shore.
Come with me, Fortunato, I have something in the cellar to show you.
December 2, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Come with me, Fortunato, I have something in the cellar to show you.
A serious St. Joseph that I probably would have ID’d as a top Cornas had I tasted it blind. Black olives, blackberries and rose petals, long finish. Kicking myself for not getting half a case bc now it’s sold out. #wine
November 13, 2025 at 10:35 PM
A serious St. Joseph that I probably would have ID’d as a top Cornas had I tasted it blind. Black olives, blackberries and rose petals, long finish. Kicking myself for not getting half a case bc now it’s sold out. #wine
Experience has made me wary of aging any Greek wine past 3 years or so, but this is holding up nicely at 5 years old. Not profound, but a lot of cherry pit and plum flavors, decent acidity and little tannin. Excellent weeknight dinner pour.
November 13, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Experience has made me wary of aging any Greek wine past 3 years or so, but this is holding up nicely at 5 years old. Not profound, but a lot of cherry pit and plum flavors, decent acidity and little tannin. Excellent weeknight dinner pour.
Marvelous Chardonnay, a little oak influence; pineapple, green apple and mango on the nose, nice acidity, only 13% ABV, excellent with a Costco rotisserie chicken and potatoes roasted in sage butter. Close second to Mt. Eden as my favorite California Chardonnay. #wine
October 31, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Marvelous Chardonnay, a little oak influence; pineapple, green apple and mango on the nose, nice acidity, only 13% ABV, excellent with a Costco rotisserie chicken and potatoes roasted in sage butter. Close second to Mt. Eden as my favorite California Chardonnay. #wine
FiL complained we’re eating too much pasta lately, so tonight’s dinner: rack of lamb, potatoes roasted in sage butter, green salad (not pictured), and a 2019 Long Island Cab Franc, which was very polished, had a little cigar box aroma and paired well, but I kind of missed the Loire funk. #wine
October 28, 2025 at 11:07 PM
FiL complained we’re eating too much pasta lately, so tonight’s dinner: rack of lamb, potatoes roasted in sage butter, green salad (not pictured), and a 2019 Long Island Cab Franc, which was very polished, had a little cigar box aroma and paired well, but I kind of missed the Loire funk. #wine
Successfully replaced two bathroom faucets today, rewarding myself with a Brockman’s gin martini. Yes, those are blueberries.
October 24, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Successfully replaced two bathroom faucets today, rewarding myself with a Brockman’s gin martini. Yes, those are blueberries.
Opened this Sancerre rouge for dinner with pan roasted pork chops, sweet potatoes and a tomato salad. If I didn’t know it’s a Pinot Noir, I might have guessed from color and earthiness that it was a rogue Cab Franc planting. But finish is cherry rather than cigar tobacco, albeit…
October 13, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Opened this Sancerre rouge for dinner with pan roasted pork chops, sweet potatoes and a tomato salad. If I didn’t know it’s a Pinot Noir, I might have guessed from color and earthiness that it was a rogue Cab Franc planting. But finish is cherry rather than cigar tobacco, albeit…
Opened this for chicken I roasted with generous amounts of garlic, lemon and butter. Good choice! Don’t let the screwcap fool you, this is a serious, bone dry Chenin Blanc with notes of tart apple and a creamy texture, and reasonably priced. Buy this instead of yet another Sancerre. #Wine
October 7, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Opened this for chicken I roasted with generous amounts of garlic, lemon and butter. Good choice! Don’t let the screwcap fool you, this is a serious, bone dry Chenin Blanc with notes of tart apple and a creamy texture, and reasonably priced. Buy this instead of yet another Sancerre. #Wine
We tried both the 2015 and 2016 La Croix D-B with grilled lamb chops and pan roasted potatoes. The ‘15 was the winner bc it tasted like a polished, fully mature wine, while the ‘16 was fruitier but still tannic. Tasted blind, no one would believe that they were only a year apart. Fascinating. #wine
September 7, 2025 at 2:04 AM
We tried both the 2015 and 2016 La Croix D-B with grilled lamb chops and pan roasted potatoes. The ‘15 was the winner bc it tasted like a polished, fully mature wine, while the ‘16 was fruitier but still tannic. Tasted blind, no one would believe that they were only a year apart. Fascinating. #wine
Marinating portobello 🍄🟫 overnight in olive oil, crushed garlic and herbs from the garden. Onto the grill tomorrow.
August 29, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Marinating portobello 🍄🟫 overnight in olive oil, crushed garlic and herbs from the garden. Onto the grill tomorrow.
2022 Big Table Farm Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Graceful, red fruit, black tea and a bit of mushroom. Very nice, makes me want to seek out their single vineyard bottles.
Ignore the Apothic, it went into a pot roast. Which is the best use for that brand.
Ignore the Apothic, it went into a pot roast. Which is the best use for that brand.
August 28, 2025 at 12:36 AM
2022 Big Table Farm Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Graceful, red fruit, black tea and a bit of mushroom. Very nice, makes me want to seek out their single vineyard bottles.
Ignore the Apothic, it went into a pot roast. Which is the best use for that brand.
Ignore the Apothic, it went into a pot roast. Which is the best use for that brand.
Had appx 30 guests for dinner party at the shore, served 1/2 case each of a red, white and rose, and this wine from Mt. Etna in Sicily was the most popular by far. A bit floral, a bit herbal, long finish. Great with garlicky grilled shrimp. #wine
July 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Had appx 30 guests for dinner party at the shore, served 1/2 case each of a red, white and rose, and this wine from Mt. Etna in Sicily was the most popular by far. A bit floral, a bit herbal, long finish. Great with garlicky grilled shrimp. #wine
Vidalia onion quiche. It’s a Riesling night.
June 9, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Vidalia onion quiche. It’s a Riesling night.
I think the grill is hot enough
May 25, 2025 at 1:32 AM
I think the grill is hot enough
2023 Robola from the island of Kefalonia, off the west coast of Greece. Supposedly indigenous.
Light body, nice acidity and low ABV (12%). A bit of citrus, more lime than lemon, but not a lot else going on. Ok as an outdoor summer sipper, but not a great value at $23.
Light body, nice acidity and low ABV (12%). A bit of citrus, more lime than lemon, but not a lot else going on. Ok as an outdoor summer sipper, but not a great value at $23.
May 17, 2025 at 9:50 PM
2023 Robola from the island of Kefalonia, off the west coast of Greece. Supposedly indigenous.
Light body, nice acidity and low ABV (12%). A bit of citrus, more lime than lemon, but not a lot else going on. Ok as an outdoor summer sipper, but not a great value at $23.
Light body, nice acidity and low ABV (12%). A bit of citrus, more lime than lemon, but not a lot else going on. Ok as an outdoor summer sipper, but not a great value at $23.
Easter dinner report. Opened these for the lamb. Had high hopes for L-P but even after 11 years, delicious but still a bit tannic. If you have any, cellar it for another 3-5 years. 10 year old Gargantua, an Oregon (!) Syrah I found as a close out special, was silky and Cote Rotie-like. For $24!
April 23, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Easter dinner report. Opened these for the lamb. Had high hopes for L-P but even after 11 years, delicious but still a bit tannic. If you have any, cellar it for another 3-5 years. 10 year old Gargantua, an Oregon (!) Syrah I found as a close out special, was silky and Cote Rotie-like. For $24!
Post (endless) Good Friday service refreshment. Midnight Mass yet to come.
April 19, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Post (endless) Good Friday service refreshment. Midnight Mass yet to come.
Made Greek Lenten dish, Spanakorizo (literally “Spinach and Rice”) for my Greek wife and father in law. Great success.
April 15, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Made Greek Lenten dish, Spanakorizo (literally “Spinach and Rice”) for my Greek wife and father in law. Great success.
Opened these for pasta Bolognese. Hartford Zin was dull, despite (bc of?) 15.5% ABV. Life’s too short to drink Zinfandel.
The CdR was earthy and a bit more acidic, if not terribly complex, and a much better match for the food.
The CdR was earthy and a bit more acidic, if not terribly complex, and a much better match for the food.
April 12, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Opened these for pasta Bolognese. Hartford Zin was dull, despite (bc of?) 15.5% ABV. Life’s too short to drink Zinfandel.
The CdR was earthy and a bit more acidic, if not terribly complex, and a much better match for the food.
The CdR was earthy and a bit more acidic, if not terribly complex, and a much better match for the food.
Update.
Also, eggs and nest itself too small for robins, likely sparrows.
Also, eggs and nest itself too small for robins, likely sparrows.
April 10, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Update.
Also, eggs and nest itself too small for robins, likely sparrows.
Also, eggs and nest itself too small for robins, likely sparrows.
So my wife put an artificial spring wreath on our front door, and some robins decided to make a home there.
April 7, 2025 at 11:12 PM
So my wife put an artificial spring wreath on our front door, and some robins decided to make a home there.