Grapes: Chardonnay
Region: Languedoc, France
Vintage: 2022
Viticulture: Organic
Soil: Limestone, Quartz + Granite
Vinification: Hand harvested. 10 days in whole bunches and, following a slow press into fiberglass
Aging: 6 months
Filtering and Fining: None
Sulfur: None added
Notes from the Importer: 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.
