This was a great guest, it’s nice to see a winemaker who is so passionate about his craft and dedicated to his practices. I’m looking forward to sampling his wines

This was a great episode! I am anxioux to try these wines when they are available!

Nice… pushing you all on Digg.com
Great episode- ‘true’ as the wine…

Gary, you never cease to amaze. It would be interesting for you to give a history of your family business.

Great segment to go along with earth day, I am interested in other organic wines and would love to see a catagory quick link to others that are available. I will be looking forward to trying the coturri offerings when they are available.

Rich great catch on the Earth Day 😉

Very interesting and well done.

Hi Gary,

Enjoyed your recent episode with Tony Coturri, although it wasn’t really at all clear to me how much you liked his wines … the problem with the “interview” format is that it doesn’t allow you quite the leeway to pan the wines while you are tasting them. So even if you do in fact like them, I feel I can’t rely on what you say, since I know you wouldn’t say otherwise with the winemaker sitting next to you.

Another thing: Tony mentioned “Biodynamics”, which is a real problem for me. (If you search under my name on eBob you will see that I have had some arguments over there on this subject). Basically, the point is this. Biodynamic agriculture is just organic agriculture plus a bunch of voodoo-type rituals that are done in the vineyard and are claimed to help the vines and wine. (Burying cow-horns in the equinox, etc.) A friend and I have researched this pretty thoroughly and have a couple of papers coming out soon debunking the whole practice as a form of ill- advised spiritualism. If you like I can email you the papers.

To my mind it’s more a form of marketing to the unwary than a different form of agriculture or viticulture.

If your wine buyers are particularly sensitive to environmental issues and “terroir”, then you can certainly say in all good conscience that organic does have some real measurable benefits. Biodynamics, however, adds nothing but hype.

Doug

Doug-
Maybe you should replay the episode again – cause I heard Gary say that he “liked” – and thought they were “great” to several of the wines – and that he was bringing in the Coturri wines to the Wine Library – all in a very genuine way – he did not seem guarded because he had a winemaker present at all.
Even RMP likes Coturri – but they aren’t for everybody.

And antoher thing: Glad you think your such an expert on the Biodynamics issue – check out the following link:

http://www.organicwinejournal.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8

Hello Wino,

Oh yes, I did hear Gary say he liked the Coturri wines. If you read what I wrote, though, my point was that it would be difficult for Gary to say anything different in the winemaker’s presence.

I didn’t write that because I thought Coturri wines were bad — I am sure they are very nice — but rather because of the format. It would be insulting for Gary to say the wines were bad with the winemaker present. So his “tasting notes” are less credible in this circumstance.

As for Biodynamics, I can’t see anything new in the link you note. Perhaps you should check this one out:

http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/%7ELinda%20Chalker-Scott/Horticultural%20Myths_files/Myths/Biodynamic%20agriculture.pdf

This is where our research takes us.

Hi – I see there was a link posted above to our message board. I’d like to invite all of you who enjoy Coturri wines to see the Organic Wine Journal at http://www.organicwinejournal.com. Thanks.

I always find it interesting the comments people make that have probably never tasted the wines, met the wine maker, or visited the winery. I find Coturri wines to be some of the most memorable I’ve ever had, and almost everyone I introduce to them has a similar response. Even though the natural and organic manner that Tony produces his wine can result in so called “bad bottle”, many of the problems I feel can be traced to improper storage and shipping. I find the wines as interesting and unique as the man that makes them, and trust his recommendations and advice.

Tony is THE man! And his wines, THE best. Glad you have him and his wines on your show.

Thanks Gary for spreading the word about Coturri.

Based upon your interview, I decided to look Coturri up while I was tasting in Sonoma this week. I have visited more wineries than I can count, but bothe the tasting and the wines were like no others.

It starts with the directions to the winery which involve driving down the ironically named “Enterprise Road” and “turning left at the barking dogs.” You then wind up an impossibly steep narrow driveway (which many Tuscan farmers would find familiar) past a junk Renault, to some very unpretentious buildings up the hill. Once there we were greeted by Paul White, who gave us the most genuine and enjoyable tour and tasting we can remember. The “tasting room” is, shall we say, basic, but the hospitality was first rate. Toward the end, Tony, himself came down to say hello.

Then to the wines. Coturri wines will not be for everyone, but I sent back a case of it, and it will not be my last. When you try these wines, you must put aside preconceived notions and prepare to experience something unique. Every wine we tasted was a gem, but none of them was like anything we had tried before. The flavors are massive, and the textures (and alcohol) are often port-like. The varietal names are more names for the wines, than a suggestion of similarity with any wine on the supermarket shelves.

There are too many exceptional experiences to describe in this comment. However, the standout is the Sangiovese, which Gary tasted. The rich texture of this wine, and the style, is more like Amarone (the subject of the previous blog), but even that is an inadequate comparison. Tony has a web site(made by Paul) and, if Gary doesn’t decide to stock Coturri wines, I recommend you try them to see what nature can make of grapes.

I’m definitly checking out Coturri next time I’m in Sonoma.
The website is as different as the man…great stuff.

B

I don’t go out and look for organically grown wines, I did pick up the Bonterra 2003 Organically Grown Merlot by accident. It had some interesting characteristics. It had some out of place flavors as well. Overall it was good though. I’ll gladly try any other organically produced wines as this practice grows. Now Biodynamics is another story. I mean egg shells and lunar phases? C’mon.

You should at least list the wines even if you guys don’t carry them or have them…

Never heard of this guy….I’ll check this out when I am in the states next as we’ll never see anything.

what a neat dude! love his style and laid back but environmentally concious approach. Good show old boy.

It’s good to see wine makers like Tony in the industry. It really adds a lot of value to the wine that they make when they have the passion and love for their product. Good choice of guest.

Cool ep. I would think Coturri would be getting an even greater following as of recent seeing as to the Green kick everyone seems to be on.

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Coturri wines are indeed not for everyone…but they are incredible! over the top, awesome! Personal favorite, the sangiovese, but the old vine zin is fantastic. The wines are not for the meek of heart. the more people that discover these wines, the more expensive they will become… Tony is a limited production vinter, so if you don’t like this wine, I thank you. I’ll gladly drink yours. Froliche Weinachten aus Deutchland.

Nevr been fortunate to try their wines, but I don’t know that my palate would enjoy those wines right now. I’ll give em’ a shot if I can find some locally.