Spicy aromas yield to rich but fresh flavors of apple compote, honey cream and poached pear in this medium- to full-bodied white. Hints of vanilla, clove, mineral and floral dovetail on the lengthy finish. Kosher. Drink now through 2020. 1,693 cases made, 181 cases imported.??–GS??Region: Israel / Galilee Select to Add

Big, rich and well-spiced, with plenty of buttery notes to the ripe pear, baked apple and pastry flavors. Plush midpalate, presenting a finish of crème br?lée and lemon curd. Kosher. Drink now through 2021. 3,000 cases made, 300 cases imported.??–KM??Region: Israel / Galilee Select to Add

Ripe yellow peach, apple and a hint of honeydew fill the nose and mouth, along with a soft kiss of toasted oak and sweet spice. The medium weight mouth is balanced and full, leading into vibrant acidity that lifts the finish. A beautiful dried and spiced orange-peel flavor lingers on the finish.——L.B.(4/1/2012)—— 89

The 2005 Chardonnay "Katzrin" (Yarden), revisited this issue, is thinning but shows little if any sign of decay. On the other hand, the passage of time has given the oak some ability to integrate better. After opening a bit flat, this got better and better and I rather liked how this showed, perhaps better than when I first saw it due to the oak integrating to a considerable extent. It still has some time to go. There is not much intensity or acidity apparent, nor much steel and minerality, but it has a little tension, it actually improves with air and some warmth, and there is still some enjoyable fruit. It is quite charming and focused, if a bit reticent, nice performance for an aging Chardonnay. Even though it improved, I'd still be careful about holding this much longer and I continue to be a little cautious on the drinking window. Drink now-2013. The Yarden reviews in this issue are library wines, revisited to see how they are coming along.Importer: Yarden, Inc., New York, NY; tel. (212) 997-9463