Although there is more sweetness here, the wine is no heavier (this is one of the miracles of good Madeira). The note below says it all. This can go with richer dishes that are meat based or with sweeter dishes. In fact, with desserts Madeira has some real advantages over other "stickies" as it has abundant refreshing acidity, no matter what the sweetness level. Try this with fruit tarts, crème caramel, Portuguese custard tarts or tarte tartin. Wine Spectator: 93 points outstanding "Notches it up. Sweet, with a thick texture moderated by tangy acidity. Caramel, molasses, walnut and orange flavors accelerate to a long, delineated finish with an aftertaste of the sea. Powerful and complex."