Silk & Spice, Portugal (Portugal) 2018

 Silk & Spice is a stand-alone brand for Sogrape and is widely available.  In 2018, the final blend was 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Alicante Bouchet, and 30% Baga.  New to me, Baga is a high yielding, but tannic grape used in Meteus and other pink wines.  For this wine, each variety is fermented separately and the ultimate blend is determined by winemaker, Antonio Braga.  Deep and dark in the glass, it is quite assertive showing ripe blackberry fruit with subtle spice in the aroma and the flavors are a mix of cassis, black fruits with a toasty element.  It is smooth as silk (honest) with a rich texture.  It finishes long with soft tannins and a delicate balance of sweet fruit and acidity.