Discover the first chapter, written beneath the mystical The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. It’s a chapter in a story of defiance and exceptional craft.
Some say fate brought you here. With only 250 cases produced from our estate vineyard, Defiant Chapter 01 is a deep, rich, and lush red wine unlike anything ever tasted before. Bold and complex, with flavors ripe raspberry, dark cherry and notes of roasted coffee and charred meats, this wine breaks tradition, releasing in Chapters rather than vintages.
Each chapter truly tells the story of this vineyard and carries the essence of The Rocks District’s magical soil and the whispers of the mystical creatures who we suspect have long safeguarded its secrets.
WINEMAKING
100% Estate Fruit from our 4.5-acre parcel in the Rocks District AVA planted in 2018, adjacent to our Seven Hills Founding Vineyard. Chapter 01 is 82% Syrah using Phelps, 470, Alban and GGN 19 clones on own-rooted vines, 11% Grenache from clones 3 and 515, with 7% Carignan clone 10/11. Each clone is fermented individually in 2 ton open top fermenters and aged in 33% new French puncheon (500L) and Austrian demi-mund (600L). Filtered. Vegan.
MULTI-VINTAGE APPROACH
Climatic changes have accelerated new farming practices over the last handful of years to moderate temperature extremes (both cold and hot), but by the nature of its geography, The Rocks District remains highly susceptible to those extremes. To truly showcase this distinctive terroir, we may blend our wines across vintages from time to time. Combining a bit from warmer vintages with lush fruit character with the racy acidity of a cooler season. It’s our opinion that this best showcases our unique parcel in the appellation and makes a phenomenal wine.
BLEND COMPOSITION FOR CHAPTER 01
– 64% from the 2022 harvest
– 36% from the 2021 harvest
TASTING NOTES
The nose is bold and earthy, showcasing The Rocks District’s distinctive minerality with aromas of smoked meats, black olives, and truffle, layered over ripe blackberry, dark plum, and a floral lift of violets, accented by black pepper and crushed stones.
On the palate, ripe dark fruits like black cherry and blueberry lead into savory notes of cured meats, leather, and black olive tapenade, while the basalt rock soils lend a unique earthy and saline character. Velvety tannins add structure, balanced by fresh acidity, making the wine lively yet grounded. The finish is long and savory, with lingering notes of smoky bacon fat, crushed rock, and a touch of graphite. Overall, this is a bold yet refined wine that captures the essence of The Rocks District’s terroir, with rustic, mineral-driven complexities that set it apart
ACCLAIM FOR THE ROCKS DISTRICT
“This incredible terroir produces an exotic, perfumed, and textured style of wine that’s one of the most unique – and identifiable – in the world.”
— Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Critic