THE WINE: Silk & Spice adds new significance to the famous 16th century trade route between Europe and Asia. The "Spice Route" was created by Portuguese explorers in 1498. It brought the Western World exciting new flavors such as nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and pepper. This red wine is a modern expression of some of those spices and aromas; its extraordinary, rich flavors born of Portugal's indigenous grapes and unique terrain. TASTING NOTES: Intense, deep ruby color, with a bright red rim. The predominant flavors are ripe, cooked black fruits. Sweet notes of vanilla and hints of mocha. The first impression in the mouth is rich and full. Excellent balance of tannins and acidity, with a long, smooth finish. HARVEST YEAR: This year was remarkable for its extreme weather, which affected the vegetative cycle. The autumn was dry, but winter and spring were cold and rainy, resulting in disease and necessitating more diligent work in the vineyards. Summer was quite dry, so that some grapes got scorched, and production was down. Despite the scarcity of grapes, this was a year of excellent quality. WINEMAKING: Grapes were harvested by variety. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes are destemmed and carried to fermentation vats, where the vinification process occurs. Alcoholic fermentation took place for around eight days, at an average temperature of 26°C. MATURATION: After the alcoholic fermentation, the must was racked to separate the wine from the rough sediments. It then rested in stainless steel vats up until the bottling day. STORE: Store the bottles horizontally. This wine's fresh and fruity profile suggests an immediate consumption, though it does have an estimate of positive ageing of at least five years. SERVE: Serve at 15°C-17ºC. ENJOY: The balanced profile of this wine and the easy tasting it provides make it suitable to be drank outside mealtime. It is also a great combination to be enjoyed with grilled meat and cheeseburgers.