Silk Road Vineyards Bird's Nest Petit Verdot 2020

A natural nesting ground turned vineyard — a rare single-varietal Petit Verdot from the Ili Valley's hottest, driest plot.

Region: Ili Valley, Xinjiang, China | Grape: 100% Petit Verdot | Vintage: 2020 | ABV: 14.5% | Style: Dry Red

Terroir
Grapes come from the "Bird's Nest Vineyard" in Regiment 67 of the Ili Valley, near the border south of the Ili River — the valley's hottest, driest plot, with ample sun and wide diurnal swings. Sandy, gravelly soil suits late-ripening Petit Verdot, letting it fully mature and build deep color and tannin. Wild birds nest here year-round thanks to the vineyard's natural farming, giving the wine its name.

Winemaking
Organically farmed, no chemical fertilizer or herbicides, yields strictly capped at 300-600kg per mu. Hand-harvested with cluster and berry selection, 48-72 hour cold soak to extract aromatics and color, aged 6-18 months in French oak to highlight Petit Verdot's floral intensity and deep color.

High Cru Tasting Notes
Medium ruby with a purple edge; green pepper, strawberry, red and black fruit, fruit candy and spice aromatics, vivid and lively. High acidity, tight tannin with a fine, sandy texture; a slightly assertive sweet-salty character with green pepper, red and black fruit, spice and earth notes. Pronounced salinity leading to a bitter edge on the finish, light warmth, with red plum and vanilla-cream on the finish and clear oak influence.