Sherry and Brandy?

[VouvrayHead]

bernkastler...
you can find good stuff in the $30 range.
right now my girlfriend and i are working on a bottle of 10 yr old Bual... Cossart Gordan, around $35...
just awesome stuff. been roasting pecans every night to go with.

i really like the 10 yr age. significantly cheaper than the 15+, and a lot more refined than the 5.

my introduction to madeira was a 10 yr malmsey i had at a fondue restaurant... it went great with chocolate.


but honestly, even affordable "rainwater" madeira from a good producer, made from the not-quite madeira-worthy tinto negro grape is nice enough in the right setting. and good for cooking, too-- and i don't like to pour crummy wine into food.