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Le Temps des Cerises "La Capitulation Ne Paie Pas!"

Regular price $50.00

Only 14 in stock

Grapes: Cinsault 

Region: Languedoc, France 

Vintage: 2023

Viticulture: Biodynamic + Organic 

Soil: Limestone, Quartz + Granite

Vinification: Hand harvested. 5-7 days carbonic maceration prior to pressing.

Aging: 6 months

Filtering and Fining: None

Sulfur: None added

Notes from the Importer: The cuvée's name comes from an old poster during the largely student-led student May '68 protests in France; it translates to "Capitulation Does Not Pay!" Axel Prüfer tends 8.5 hectares of vines in La Tour-sur-Orb in France's Languedoc. 

This is the wine formerly known as Axel's 'Brutal'

Leaving his home in East Germany in the 90s, it was only after chance encounters with luminaries Jean-Francois Nicq and Eric Pfifferling that Axel Prüfer decided to lay roots in the south of France. In 2003, just north of Béziers in the Languedoc, he formed his domaine, Le Temps des Cerises, where he remains to this day. The small hamlet, Le Mas Blanc, is the home to Axel’s cellar, but his vineyards lie scattered, higher up the hills in some of the most beautiful but inhospitable areas of the region, planted over a complex mix of soils at various altitudes and expositions. 

His methods in the vines are much like those in the cellar - sensitive and intuitive, but also built on the back of more than 20 years growing and winemaking experience. Always keen to think outside the box, he has been known to experiment with leaving hair around vineyards to dispel wild boar as well as choosing to treat parcels with herbal tisanes over chemical sprays. And in the cellar it is not uncommon for him to pass the press juice from a maceration over the marc of another variety, lending the wine a subtle extra character that adds to its intrigue. 

To produce delicate and fresh wines in such a hot and dry environment is far from straightforward, but Axel manages it year on year. Picking at the right moment and a delicate touch during vinification are crucial. This gentle and thoughtful approach results in some of the most beloved wines in our portfolio and we are so thrilled to have just received his stellar 2022 vintage.

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