The 2007 CHARDONNAY “CHOSEN - ONYX” is from the Neve Ilan vineyard, aged sur lie for 16 months in 50% new French oak. There is some pretty good fruit in here, but the wine, not surprisingly, has an oak-flavored overlay that makes the fruit rather hard to find at the outset. It is gentle and rather harmonious given its age. Once past the oak, it does have considerable elegance and some style, as well as far more finesse, ageworthiness and complexity than the ’09 Chardonnay Reserve reviewed this issue. Those looking to save some bucks, though, might find, at least today and in the short term, that they are as happy with the Reserve, which is admittedly a more straightforward wine but nonetheless one that offers unadorned and tasty fruit in an harmonious presentation. At this Onyx airs out, though, the acidity comes through, the oak recedes a bit and it shows some bite on the finish. I began to like it more. There were slightly less than 2,980 bottles produced. Drink now-2012. Binyamina is one of Israel’s larger and older wine producers. The Chosen brand wines reviewed this issue are denominated with the gemstones chosen (onyx, diamond, sapphire, etc.), according to the winery, for the "breastplate of the High Priest during the time of the Second Temple.” The 2007 releases are nicely done as a group. Note: Although Binyamina does have a USA importer, all releases do not always appear and not always at the same time, necessarily, in our marketplace. As of this writing, it is not clear, for instance, if the late harvest gewurztraminer will be imported, and the 2006 releases in some labels were still current in this marketplace with ‘07s not yet available.Importer: Royal Wine Corp., Bayonne, N.J.; tel: (718) 534-0118.
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