Red wine help! Help me choose

[jazznut]

Originally Posted by Rconectn

If I go with a Madeira, what kind of glass should I use? ... Finally the last wine shop carried Leacock's 10yrs Medium Rich Bual Madeira. I bought it, with tax it came out around $44. Why is it so hard to find a 15 yr old or older bottle of Madeira, let alone a 10 yr? What's up with that.

A standard Port or Sherry glass will do just fine.

As for the relative lack of general availability of finer Madeira, this phenomenon is likely due to a few different factors. Firstly, most people likely know of Madeira only as that 'unusual' wine used in reduction sauces, and have no idea that a good Madeira can stand alongside the finest of fortified wines on its own merits. Secondly, the entire Madeira industry has undergone a somewhat difficult transition over the last couple of decades... With Portugal's entry into the EEC, the regulations governing the making and labelling of Madeira have been tightened, and firms have also taken it upon themselves to take a closer look at overall quality levels. Production costs are quite high, especially for the more venerable, traditionally aged varieties. And there isn't a tremendous amount to go around. Retail outlets in many regions often don't bother to stock 10YO and 15YO Madeira, either because they don't feel it will move of the shelves rapidly enough (owing to local clientele preferences possibly) or because they don't view it as cost-competitive. Last but not least, those individuals who DO know the true value of the better Madeira wines don't hesitate to 'grab' those bottles whenever they become available.