Karin Lautner: an interesting new producer in Austria’s Burgenland region
Katrin works with Franz Weninger (previously she worked with Markus Altenburger), and this is her weekend project. She rents a hectare of vines in Neckenmarkt, with three different vineyard sites. The wines are consistently good, and are a real joy, made naturally and creatively. They are named after plants that grow in these hand-tended vineyards. I tasted these wines with Katrin at Karakterre, a natural wine festival in Austria’s Burgenland.


THE WINES
Katrin Lautner Pusteblume PetNat NV
Blaufrankisch and Cabernet Sauvignon. The base wine for this is 2022, and then juice from 2023 is added for second fermentation. It’s then disgorged. Pink/red in colour, this is lively and bright with nice cherry fruit and some citrus brightness. Fresh, juicy and refined with just a bit of structure, this is really good. 91/100
Katrin Lautner Weissenmargaritte Gruner Veltliner 2022
One-third carbonic maceration, with the tank taken into the vineyard. Two-thirds is destemmed. Aged in used oak. Nice structure: fresh and lively with nice lemon and pear fruit. This has nice detail and a bit of grip, and it’s stylish, with a hint of saltiness. 93/100
Katrin Lautner Wilde Karotte 2022
Welschriesling, 100% carbonic maceration for 7 days, made using grapes from Markus Altenburger. Complex, lively and bright with a little lift to the citrus fruit. There’s a hint of pear, too. Juicy and alert with some sour cherry notes on the finish. So appealing. 92/100
Katrin Lautner Knopfblume 2022
This is a rosé made from Blaufränkisch and Cabernet Sauvignon. Pink/red in colour, this is fresh and lively with supple, stony, mineral notes under the nice cherry and raspberry fruit with a touch of citrus. Lovely weight and good acidity. 92/100
Katrin Lautner Wiesenklee 2022
This is Blaufränkisch from sandy soils, a vigorous site. One-third whole cluster, two-thirds destemmed on top. Juicy, stony and lively with nice texture and lovely berry fruits. Showing just a hint of evolution and resolution. Very stylish. 93/100
Katrin Lautner Wilde Malve 2021
100% carbonic Blaufränkisch. Juicy and stony with lovely raspberry fruit. Has brightness and some mineral character. Very stylish with cherries and plums. Elegant and fine. 93/100