Sherry and Brandy?

[Thomas]

Do not--I repeat--do not even consider buying a Madeira that is cheap and that was produced anywhere but on the island of Madeira.

Now, what do they taste like? Would heaven be too vague?

Madeira is produced from white grapes--there are five main grapes and five main wines.

Rainwater, Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, Malmsey. I believe there used to be a sixth or maybe still is...

The hallmark of Madeira is a caramel, nutty, dried fruit character. Each of the five wines offer a variety of ranges in character and in sweetness. I have listed them with the sweetest last.

The wines are sweet but they also have great acidity and fantastic balance, and they are the only wines that I know of that can be fresh and drinkable months, and even years, after a bottle has been open and left to sit on a shelf. The reason for that has to do with the way they are produced and virtually pasteurized.