A wine that began its life as his ‘Brutal’ cuvée years ago. Made with hand-harvested Cinsault, picked during the first passage through the vines. The grapes pressed directly and then briefly infused with Chardonnay skins from the cuvée La Peur du Rouge, before élevage takes place in fibreglass cuve. The lightest, and probably the most sought-after of Axel’s wines, this rosy pink offers freshness in abundance with plenty of soft red fruits, the Chardonnay skins coaxing out some lovely aromatics and acidity. One to chill down and enjoy in a single sitting.
It does not take a long time in the company of Axel Prüfer to understand why he has gained legendary status in the natural wine scene. A man of incredible generosity of time and spirit, extremely hard-working and led by his convictions – he also happens to make fantastic wines! Based north of Beziers in the Languedoc, Le Mas Blanc is the home to the Temps Des Cerises cellar, but the vineyards lie higher up the hills in some of the most beautiful but inhospitable areas of the region. It is not easy to produce delicate and fresh wines from such a brutal environment, but Axel manages it year on year. Picking at the right moment and a delicate touch in the cellar are crucial. In the winery all grapes are fermented in whole bunches, including the whites, and see élevage in large tanks (mainly fibreglass). The cellar has been adapted so there is no need for a pump with all rackings fed by gravity.
