Reviews and Awards

Awards

2008

Most of our wines weren't ready to go into the Northwest Wine Summit in Oregon this spring but the one we did send, our 2006 ZETA, won a Gold medal. Yeah!!

2007

2006 Pinot Gris -- Gold medal, 2007 Northwest Wine Summit, Oregon, U.S.A

2004 Fetish -- Silver medal, 2007 Northwest Wine Summit, Oregon, U.S.A

2005 Pinot Noir -- Bronze medal, 2007 Northwest Wine Summit, Oregon, U.S.A.

2005 Zeta -- Bronze medal, 2007 Northwest Wine Summit, Oregon, U.S.A.

2005 Zeta -- Bronze medal, 2007 Canadian Wine Awards

2006

2004 Pinot Noir -- Silver medal, 2006 Northwest Wine Summit, Oregon, U.S.A.

2004 Zeta -- Silver medal, 2006 Northwest Wine Summit, Oregon, U.S.A.

2004 Labyrinth -- Silver medal, 2006 Northwest Wine Summit, Oregon, U.S.A.

2004 Labyrinth -- Bronze medal, 12th Annual BC Wine & Oyster Festival

2005

2004 Pinot Gris -- Silver medal, 2005 Northwest Wine Summit

2004 Blanc de Noir -- Selected as "One of BC's Best 25 Wines", Vancouver Magazine 2005 Eating and Drinking Guide

2003 Pinot Noir -- Bronze medal, 2005 Northwest Wine Summit

2003 Fetish -- Silver medal, 2005 Northwest Wine Summit

2003 Fetish -- Best Buy, "Big Reds", 2005 Vancouver International Wine Competition

2004

2003 Pinot Gris -- Gold medal, 2004 Northwest Wine Summit

2002 Fetish -- Silver medal, 2004 Northwest Wine Summit

2002 Labyrinth -- Bronze medal, 2004 Northwest Wine Summit

2002 Pinot Noir -- Bronze medal, 2004 Northwest Wine Summit

2003

2002 Pinot Gris -- Silver medal, 2003 Northwest Wine Summit

2001 Pinot Noir -- Bronze medal, 2003 Northwest Wine Summit

2002 Labyrinth -- Bronze medal, 2003 Canadian Wine Awards

Recent Reviews

CHRISTINA BURRIDGE, VANCOUVER MAGAZINE, SUMMER 2007

"There are now 30 licensed wineries on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Many make wines that are curiousities at best, downright undrinkable at worst. Garry Oaks makes some of the best. In just seven years, Mercier and Kozak have achieved their original goal: making "'really, really good wine'". Check out the whole story at www.vanmag.com/foodanddrink/07jul/Drink.shtml.

JOHN SCHREINER, APPELLATION AMERICA

Pinot Noir 2005 - "This wine has a fine dark colour for the variety, with aromas of raspberries and cherries. In the palate, there is a delicious play of fruit flavours, with a spiciness lifting the cherries and raspberries. The texture is silky. This is an elegant and pretty wine with good intensity and with the potential to benefit from cellaring."

JANE MUNDY, NATIONAL POST, August 26, 2006

Zeta 2004 - Jane included Garry Oaks wines in her Vancouver 100-Mile Dinner Party. Referring to the main dish of marinated smoked pork, she writes, "...the Zeta's black cherry and spice flavours elevated this dish to greatness and convinced even the wine snobs among us that great wine can be produced locally. 'I didn't think the Island could produce a good red with these characteristics: full-bodied and full-flavoured,' dinner guest Sue Alexander said, 'but I was pleasantly surprised.'"

WINE ACCESS MAGAZINE

Pinot Noir 2004 - "Smoky, Worchestershire, compost, licorice root aromas with a touch of strawberry. Soft, round, astringent entry with light tannins. Peppery, rootsy, rhubarb, compost flavours...We look forward to future editions."

TIM PAWSEY, Vancouver Courier

Pinot Noir 2004 - "A very stylish, medium-bodied Pinot, home grown by Saltspring's rising star. Forward, lifted strawberry and earthy aromas followed by firm cherry and darker fruits with some pleasing spice. Very solid."

MEMORY WALSH, VINES magazine

Fetish 2003 - One of B.C.'s best 25 Wines - "4.5 Stars. Newly opened in 2003, this Salt Spring Island producer draws its name from the white oak trees that border the vineyards micro-managed by economist/winemaker Elaine Kozak and environmentalist/grower Marcel Mercier. If this long-limbed thoroughbred blend of Cabernet and Merlot typifies future releases, lineups at the door will be as long and lasting aas this wine's notable finish. The agile structure and textbook flavours emulate Bordeaux at a classified growth level, with a high-toned, seductive palate of cassis, plum, chocolate and satin-textured tannins. The only drawback is only 300 cases were produced."

CHRISTINA BURRIDGE, Vancouver magazine

Blanc de Noir 2004 - One of B.C.'s best 25 Wines - "Most B.C. pink wines are garish and sweet. This one from an exciting Salt Spring Island winery that opened in 2003 emulates the best of provence. Made from Pinot Noir, it's pale blush pink with an appetizing strawberry nose. What makes it work is the hefty acidity. Pretty and delicate to look at, it can stand up to any kind of outdoor food from grilled eggplant to grilled lamb."

Fetish 2003 - "The 2002 Fetish was one of the surprise stars of this magazine's wine awards in January (Vancouver Magazine International Wine Competition). The just released 2003 has rich, sweet fruit from Cabernet and Merlot, good structure and lush, sweet vanilla from the old and new, French and U.S. oak."

JURGEN GOTHE, radio personality and columnist in the Georgia Straight did a comprehensive review of our wines last winter.

JANCIS ROBINSON
We had the good fortune to have our wines included in a tasting by Jancis Robinson (world-renown wine critic and author of several classics such as the "Oxford Companion to Wine", and "Vines, Grapes & Wine") on April 19, 2004. She included three of our wines in her list of "favourites" with the following comments:

Garry Oaks Gewürztraminer 2003 - "Very pretty and noticeably delicate...Lively with a lovely texture."

Garry Oaks Blanc de Noir 2003 - "Pale strawberry colour. Not that much nose but good fruit on the palate. Lots of acidity."

Garry Oaks Estate Pinot Noir 2002 - "Light crimson, this wine is not trying to be a copy of an Echezeaux, just a light, fruity Pinot with a good balance between fruit, acid and tannin."

JOHN SCHREINER, author of "The Wineries of British Columbia" and "British Columbia Wine Country" did a profile of us recently. Check it out on www.gismondionwine.com