2021 Le Temps des Cerises La Capitulation Ne Paie Pas

WINEMAKER: Axel Prüfer
REGION: Languedoc, FR
VARIETAL: Cinsault
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic

"This is a bit complicated! In the last couple of years the wine from Axel which sells most quickly is Brutal (sometimes called Fatal Brutal), his super-fresh and light Cinsault, that’s always between 10 and 11% alcohol (except this year it is 9.9%). Axel’s decided to mix things up a bit this year. The whole idea of the Brutal project (many winemakers make a Brutal) is that it was to be something unexpected and he thinks now his Brutal is no longer unexpected. The old Brutal now has a permanent name. It’s called “La Capitulation Ne Paie Pas”, based on a journal cover / poster from the resistance during the 1968 protest movement. (The translation is “Capitulation does not Pay” – very Axel!) This wine was made using 5 days of carbonic maceration before pressing." - Living Wines

Axel Prüfer was born and raised in East Germany but moved to France as a young man to take up a career in winemaking in a remote vineyard surrounded by forest. Because the forests are the natural habitat of wild boars, Axel collects human hair from the hairdressers in the local village and spreads it around the boundary of his vineyard. He says that the boar pick up the human scent from the hair and avoid the vineyard. The vineyard is a picture of health with spiderwebs everywhere and an amazing biodiversity on display.