A welcome return of Axel Prüfer’s ‘Un Pas de Côte’. After using various blends over the years for this cuvée, the 2022 vintage is made with 100% Grenache Noir. The grape is expressed with great purity. In the glass, aromas of wild herbs and strawberries emerge. On the palate lush red fruits shine through with strawberries and cherries aplenty. The fruit is juicy yet dense, sitting alongside a good dose of crunchy green herbs. Rustic tannins are balanced nicely with a pronounced backbone of mineral acidity.
Made with 100% Grenache Noir from a south-facing parcel on limestone soils. The grapes were macerated for 15 days in whole bunches before élevage in fibreglass tank.
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.
