The 2009 “Chosen - Sapphire is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 20% Syrah aged for 16 months in new French oak. This seems dominated early on by the Syrah component, showing a welcome earthy note to go with the acidity and sharp, tannic finish. Modest in the mid-palate, it has some grip on the finish and drinks quite pleasantly, likely to be a good food matchup. Whether it does enough for its price range is up to you, but there is some chance that this can still improve in the cellar and acquire better balance, so I’m leaning up just a bit. Drink now-2018. Importer: Royal Wine Corp., Bayonne, N.J.; tel: (718) 534-0118.

The 2007 “CHOSEN - SAPPHIRE” is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Shiraz and 25% Merlot, the Cabernet and Merlot Sauvignon from Kidmat Zvi vineyard in the Golan Heights and the Shiraz from the Upper Galilee. It was aged for 15 months in French oak. The Sapphire calls it Shiraz, the Diamond (also reviewed this issue) calls it Syrah; the former, says the winery, is an American clone and the latter is a French clone. Not surprisingly, either from the clonal choice or the winemaking intent, this Sapphire seems more new world and the Diamond a little bit more old world. This has good structure, grip on the finish and the capacity to develop in the cellar as well. Bursting with flavor, although some of it is oak-induced, it is succulent and tasty. If I had to pick, I’d give the edge to the Diamond, for its greater complexity, but some will understandably prefer this Sapphire for its exuberant flavors and sweet fruit. There were 7,860 bottles produced. Drink now-2018. 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.