Projekt Wildtyp: natural wines from Burgenland, Austria, by an ex-scientist
Website: https://www.projektwildtyp.at/en
This is a new winery, now in it’s fifth year. Boris Kovacic was an academic working in microbiology and genetics, hence the name, which is science-derived. After 18 years in the dayjob, he turned his hobby into his living, in 2021. His idea was to use wildtype (Wildtyp) to refer to the natural genetics of wine in Burgenland. He’s based in St Margarethen.
Winemaking is natural. Most of these wines are zero/zero, and he only adds sulfites when he deems it necessary, which is rarely.
Projekt Wildtyp Sprudla 2023 Burgenland, Austria
This is an orange PetNat made from skin-fermented Muller Thurgau. 13 days on skins then pressed, left for a month, and then bottled with fresh juice from the last grapes. Disgorged. Lovely bright, floral, grapey wine. Rich and tangy with pear, peach and a touch of spice. Dry and fresh. 92/100
Projekt Wildtyp Drangalo 2022 Burgenland, Austria
Grüner Veltliner with 2 days on skins. Fresh, lively and tangy with nice weight and some structure. A rich style, showing pear and peach fruit, with some substance. 92/100
Projekt Wildtyp Hallo-Dri 2022 Burgenland, Austria
This is Grüner-Veltliner from a warmer site, with more clay, mica and quartz in the soil. 6 days on skins. Full gold/amber colour. Complex and lively with some structure. There’s a stony edge to the bold citrus fruit. Good structure, finishing firm. 94/100
Projekt Wildtyp Drangalo 2023 Burgenland, Austria
10% alcohol. Lighter style. Bright and lively; stony and fresh. Mineral and vivid with nice intensity, but there’s some mousiness on the finish.
Projekt Wildtyp Lumpazi 2023 Burgenland, Austria
Skin-macerated Muller Thurgau. Fresh and fine with nice weight. Has a stony edge and some structure. Lovely freshness here with finesse and beautiful detail. 94/100
Projekt Wildtyp Linsnwuscha 2022 Burgenland, Austria
Single-vineyard field blend of 10 varieties, including both red and white. Pale red with a hint of orange. Powerful and lively with notes of tea, spicy, peach, cherry and marmalade. There’s a hint of sweetness on the finish. Some grapiness, finishing warm and spicy. 92/100
Projekt Wildtyp Schlawina 2022 Burgenland, Austria
Neuberger from schist, 45 year old vines. Lively, stony and bright with nice firm structure under the ripe, sweet fruit. Bold with some stoniness. Such complexity here with layers of flavour. 94/100
Projekt Wildtyp Krawallo! 2021 Burgenland, Austria
Grüner Veltliner from schist soils raised in Stockinger barrels for 30-40 months. Some mint, spice and pear notes with white peach richness. Has a bit of grip. Such lovely balance here with white pepper, pear and apple notes, too. 95/100
Projekt Wildtyp Heppi-Peppi 2022 Burgenland, Austria
Zweigelt with 25% whole bunch. Limestone and schist soils. Vivid and floral with some juiciness. Cherries to the fore, as well as some raspberry. Nice fruit focus here with good texture and some grainy detail. Very fine and fresh. 93/100
Projekt Wildtyp Gramuri 2022 Burgenland, Austria
Blaufränkisch from limestone. Fresh and supple and lively with nice precision. Very fine. Juicy and linear with nice bright fruit. 93/100
Projekt Wildtyp Feschak 2022 Burgenland, Austria
Blaufränkisch on limestone. Nice richness here with good texture. Fine with some oaky hints in the background and nice sweet fruit. Finely textured with refinement, purity and lovely weight. 94/100
