FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jo Diaz July 8, 2009 [email protected] [707] 620-0788

From a Dim Light to a Highlight, Petite Sirah is Shining Brightly

WINDSOR, CA: From the Creators.com Web site, the headline read: Price Is No Judge in a Competition. The author is Robert Whitley, a syndicated writer and wine competition organizer. Robert brings many of the best and brightest talent to his competitions, so that judgment is very exacting and credible. He writes the following:

As usual, the annual Critics Challenge International Wine Competition – staged in San Diego over the Memorial Day weekend – spit out a fair number of surprises.

The judges are an eclectic group of renowned wine journalists – such as Jon Bonne, Wine Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle; Leslie Sbrocco, author of “Wine for Women”; and Stephen Brook of London, an editor at and a prolific author of award-winning wine books – who are just as apt to fall in love with a $25 wine as they are with a $100 wine.

That’s exactly what happened when it came to the vote for wine of the year. The initial ballot resulted in a tie between the 2000 Perrier-Jouet Fleur de ($139) and the 2006 Clayhouse Petite Sirah ($25) of Paso Robles. To the amazement of some, the Clayhouse Petite edged the Perrier-Jouet in the runoff – quite an outcome considering had taken wine of the year in three of the previous five Critics Challenges.

Clayhouse is a member of PSILY, and we were delighted to read what Whitley had penned. We also began to wonder how the other members were doing, because we get occasional Emails from them, when their results have arrived. PS I Love You members were queried, just to get a read on how well their PSes do when placed in evaluation circumstances. The results are in, in alphabetical order, and are astounding for a cultivar that is deemed as obscure by some:

2006 Artezin Garzini Ranch PS ~ Mendocino ~ GOLD ~ SF Chronicle Wine 2006 Artezin Garzini Ranch PS ~ Four Stars/Excellent ~ Restaurant Wine 2006 Artezin Garzini Ranch PS ~ Mendocino ~ 5 Stars/Exceptional ~ Restaurant Wine 2006 Artezin Garzini Ranch PS ~ Mendocino ~ Score: 92 – Wine Spectator

2006 Aver Family PS ~ Central Coast ~ GOLD ~ Critics Challenge 2009

P.O. Box 1505 ~ Windsor CA 95492 ~ 707-620-0788 ~ [email protected] ~ 501 (c) (6) 82-0583174

2006 Ballentine Vineyards PS ~ Fig Tree PS ~ GOLD ~ Am. Fine Wine 2006 Ballentine Vineyards PS ~ Fig Tree Vineyard St. Helena PS ~ 91 Points, Wine Enthusiast

2006 Berryessa Gap PS~ ~ GOLD, 90 points ~ Beverage Testing Institute

2007 Bogle Vineyards PS ~ GOLD ~ Riverside Int’l Wine 2006 Bogle Vineyards PS ~ GOLD ~ LA Int. Wine & Spirits Competition 2006 Bogle Vineyards PS ~ GOLD ~ Orange County Fair 2006 Bogle Vineyards PS ~ GOLD ~ West Coast Wine Competition 2006 Bogle Vineyards PS ~ GOLD ~ CA State Fair 2006 Bogle Vineyards PS ~ PLATINUM ~ Jerry Mead’s NWIWC 2006 Bogle Vineyards PS PORT ~ DOUBLE GOLD ~ SF Chronicle Wine 2006 Bogle Vineyards PS PORT ~ GOLD ~ Grand Awards 2006 Bogle Vineyards PS PORT ~ GOLD ~ Pacific Rim 2006 Bogle Vineyards PS PORT ~ GOLD, SWEEPS ~ Monterey

2006 Concannon Vineyard LR PS ~ GOLD ~ Critics Challenge 2006 Concannon Vineyard Res. Captain Joe’s PS ~ GOLD ~ Critics Challenge 2005 Concannon Vineyard Res. Captain Joe’s PS ~ GOLD ~ Florida State Fair 2005 Concannon Vineyard LR PS ~ GOLD ~ Hilton Head Wine Festival 2004 Concannon Vineyard Res. Heritage PS ~ GOLD ~ Critics Challenge 2009

2006 Clayhouse Estate PS ~ Paso Robles ~ GOLD ~ LA Int’l Wine & Spirits 2006 Clayhouse Estate PS ~ Paso Robles ~ BEST OF CLASS ~ LA Int’l Wine & Spirits 2006 Clayhouse Estate PS ~ GOLD ~ BEST ~ Critic’s Challenge 2006 Clayhouse Estate PS ~ GOLD ~ WINE OF THE YEAR ~ Critic’s Challenge 2006 Clayhouse Estate PS ~ GOLD Riverside International Wine Competition

2006 EOS Estate PS ~ GOLD ~ SF Chronicle Wine Competition 2004 EOS Estate Winery Cupa Grandis PS ~ GOLD ~ American Wine Society

2006 Girard Petite Sirah ~ 91 Points ~ Robert Parker

2006 Harney Lane Winery PS ~ GOLD ~ 2009 SF Chronicle Wine Competition 2006 Harney Lane Winery PS ~ GOLD ~ 2009 Grand Harvest Awards 2006 Harney Lane Winery PS ~ BEST OF CLASS ~ 2009 Lodi Int’l Wine Awards

2006 Heringer Estates PS PORT ~ GOLD ~ SF Chronicle Wine Comp. 2004 Heringer Estates PS ~ DOUBLE GOLD ~ Florida State Fair Int’l Wine 2004 Heringer Estates PS ~ GOLD ~ CA State Fair 2004 Heringer Estates PS ~ GOLD ~ Grand Harvest Awards 2004 Heringer Estates PS ~ GOLD ~ SF Int’l Wine Competition

2006 Langtry Estate & Vineyards Lake County PS ~ GOLD ~ -New World Int’l 2006 Langtry Estate & Vineyards Lake County PS ~ GOLD Finger Lakes WC 2006 Langtry Estate & Vineyards Lake County PS ~ GOLD ~ San Diego Int’l 2005 Langtry Estate & Vineyards Serpentine Meadow, Guenoc Valley PS ~ 93 Points ~ Wine Enthusiast 2005 Langtry Estate & Vineyards Ser. M., Guenoc Valley ~ BEST OF SHOW Red Wine ~ Florida Int’l 2005 Langtry Estate & Vineyards Ser. M., Guenoc Valley ~ GOLD ~ Finger Lakes 2005 Langtry Estate & Vineyards Ser. M., Guenoc Valley ~ GOLD ~ San Diego Int’l 2004 Langtry Estate & Vineyards Ser. M., Guenoc Valley ~ Top 100 : The Best of the West, SFGate.com

P.O. Box 1505 ~ Windsor CA 95492 ~ 707-620-0788 ~ [email protected] ~ 501 (c) (6) 82-0583174

2006 Lava Cap Winery Granite Hill PS ~ DOUBLE GOLD ~ SF Chron Nat’l Comp 2005 Lava Cap Winery Granite Hill PS ~ DOUBLE GOLD Tasters Guild 2005 Lava Cap Winery Granite Hill PS ~ DOUBLE GOLD Calaveras County Fair 2005 Lava Cap Winery Granite Hill PS ~ GOLD Florida State Fair 2005 Lava Cap Winery Granite Hill PS ~ GOLD El Dorado County Fair 2005 Lava Cap Winery Granite Hill PS ~ GOLD Orange County Fair 2005 Lava Cap Winery Granite Hill PS ~ GOLD Florida Int’l Wine Competition

2006 Line 39 PS – Lake County ~ GOLD ~ Pacific Rim Int’l Wine Competition 2006 Line 39 PS – Lake County ~ GOLD ~ Orange County Fair 2006 Line 39 PS – Lake County ~ GOLD ~ LA Int’l Wine & Spirits Awards 2006 Line 39 PS – Lake County ~ GOLD ~ Long Beach Grand Cru 2005 Line 39 PS – Lake County ~ GOLD ~ Dallas Morning News 2005 Line 39 PS – Lake County ~ GOLD ~ Finger Lakes International 2005 Line 39 PS – Lake County ~ GOLD ~ Riverside International 2005 Line 39 PS – Lake County ~ GOLD ~ Taster’s Guild International 2005 Line 39 PS – Lake County ~ GOLD ~ Orange County Fair 2005 Line 39 PS – Lake County ~ GOLD ~ California State Fair

2005 Masset Winery Columbia Valley PS ~ GOLD ~ WA State Wine Comp 2005 Masset Winery Columbia Valley PS ~ GOLD ~ Appellation America 2005 Masset Winery Columbia Valley PS ~ BEST of Appellation ~ Appellation America

2005 Mettler Family Vineyards, Lodi PS ~ GOLD ~ Fingerlakes International 2005 Mettler Family Vineyards, Lodi PS ~ GOLD ~ Riverside International 2005 Mettler Family Vineyards, Lodi PS ~ GOLD ~ West Coast Wine 2005 Mettler Family Vineyards, Lodi PS ~ GOLD ~ Dallas Morning News 2005 Mettler Family Vineyards, Lodi PS ~ GOLD ~ Orange County Fair 2005 Mettler Family Vineyards, Lodi PS ~ GOLD ~ Sweepstakes Red ~ Long Beach Grand Cru 2005 Mettler Family Vineyards, Lodi PS ~ GOLD ~ Lodi Int’l Wine 2005 Mettler Family Vineyards, Lodi PS ~ GOLD ~ 90 Points/Very Highly Rec. ~ CA Grapevine

2006 Miro Dry Creek Valley PS ~ GOLD ~ San Antonio Wine Festival 2006 Miro Dry Creek Valley PS ~ GOLD ~ West Coast Wine Competition 2006 Miro Dry Creek Valley PS ~ GOLD ~ 90 Points Wine Enthusiast

2007 Oakstone Winery Geoff & Katy Farm Vineyard Reserve PS ~ DOUBLE GOLD ~ El Dorado County 2007 Oakstone Winery Geoff & Katy Farm Vineyard Reserve PS ~ BEST OF CLASS ~ El Dorado County

2006 Parducci PS, Mendocino County ~ GOLD – SF Chronicle Wine Comp 2005 Parducci True Grit PS, Mendocino ~ 92 Points Wine & Spirits 2005 Parducci True Grit PS, Mendocino ~ GOLD ~ Florida State Fair 2004 Parducci True Grit PS ~ 94 Points ~ 100 Best Wines ~ Wine & Spirits 2003 Parducci True Grit PS ~ 93 Points ~ Wine Enthusiast, Top 100 2008

2006 Pedroncelli Family Vineyards PS ~ Critics GOLD ~ 2009 Critics Challenge 2005 Pedroncelli Family Vineyards PS ~ GOLD ~ Taster’s Guild Int’l Wine 2005 Pedroncelli Family Vineyards PS ~ RECOMMENDED ~ Gerald Asher, Gourmet

2007 Silkwood PS~ GOLD ~ Pacific Rim Int’l Wine Competition

P.O. Box 1505 ~ Windsor CA 95492 ~ 707-620-0788 ~ [email protected] ~ 501 (c) (6) 82-0583174

2006 Spangler Vineyards PS, Oregon ~ DOUBLE GOLD ~ Wine Press Northwest, Best of the Best 2006 Spangler Vineyards PS, Oregon ~ GOLD ~ Indianapolis International

2006 Twisted PS, Calaveras County ~ DOUBLE GOLD ~ CA State Fair 2006 Twisted Oak PS, Calaveras County ~ BEST OF CLASS ~ CA State Fair 2006 Twisted Oak PS, Calaveras County ~ DOUBLE GOLD ~ Appellation America 2006 Twisted Oak PS, Calaveras County ~ GOLD ~ Amador Competition 2005 Twisted Oak PS, Calaveras County ~ GOLD ~ SF Chronicle 2005 Twisted Oak PS, Calaveras County ~ GOLD ~ Orange County

2006 Victor Hugo PS, Paso Robles ~ DOUBLE GOLD ~ Tasters Guild 2006 Victor Hugo PS, Paso Robles ~ GOLD ~ Pacific Rim Int’l Wine 2006 Victor Hugo PS, Paso Robles ~ GOLD ~ Grand Harvest Int’l Wine 2006 Victor Hugo PS, Paso Robles ~ GOLD ~ Appellation America

2006 Vina Robles Jardine PS, Paso Robles ~ GOLD ~ 2009 San Diego Int’l Wine 2006 Vina Robles Jardine PS, Paso Robles ~ 93 Points – Wine Enthusiast 2006 Vina Robles Jardine PS, Paso Robles ~ 5-Stars – Restaurant Wine

This is only a partial list, as not all members responded to the query of what their latest accolades on their Petite(s) currently are.

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P.O. Box 1505 ~ Windsor CA 95492 ~ 707-620-0788 ~ [email protected] ~ 501 (c) (6) 82-0583174