New Store Arrivals: Zaku, Senkin, Gikyo, Shishi no Sato, Hatsusakura
Zaku “Kaizan Hakui”
From Mie Prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this luxurious sake is an exceptional collection of mango, strawberry, cantaloupe, pineapple, powdered sugar, and lilly aromas. Stop the presses! This is one of those sakes that every serious sake drinker at some point must try. Dare we say it has Juyondai similarities in weight, viscosity, and glucose of this brew? Smooth, juicy, velvety, and round there is a very inquisitive fleshy component that is balanced out perfectly by an uptick acidity that lifts the flavors. Look for a vast array of flavors from pear, apple, and strawberry to mango, papaya, watermelon, rock sugar with a sneaky mint and umami play and a quick mineral finish. This is professional sake! A superb gifting sake that you should probably gift to yourself! Thank you Zaku! WORD: Luxurious WINE: Smooth Reds/Fat Whites BEER: Fruity Belgians FOODS: Champagne fare, lobster, foie gras, crab, ankimo, sushi, and sashimi.
From Mie Prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this luxurious sake is an exceptional collection of mango, strawberry, cantaloupe, pineapple, powdered sugar, and lilly aromas. Stop the presses! This is one of those sakes that every serious sake drinker at some point must try. Dare we say it has Juyondai similarities in weight, viscosity, and glucose of this brew? Smooth, juicy, velvety, and round there is a very inquisitive fleshy component that is balanced out perfectly by an uptick acidity that lifts the flavors. Look for a vast array of flavors from pear, apple, and strawberry to mango, papaya, watermelon, rock sugar with a sneaky mint and umami play and a quick mineral finish. This is professional sake! A superb gifting sake that you should probably gift to yourself! Thank you Zaku! WORD: Luxurious WINE: Smooth Reds/Fat Whites BEER: Fruity Belgians FOODS: Champagne fare, lobster, foie gras, crab, ankimo, sushi, and sashimi.
Gikyo “Chivalry”
From Aichi Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo. SMV: +5 Acidity: 1.7
The nose on this well-packaged Ginjo is a slick collection of grape, apple, melon, bread, grains, cereal, and powder sugar aromas. So what’s the story with this newspaper-clad bottle of sake? It’s the news, silly! The newspaper is a cool way of keeping UV light away from the contents of this bottle, that would appeal to dry wine drinkers of note. Light, slippery, crisp, compact, with a tannin-like dryness that drinks with astringency (shibumi) and has a playful uptick acidity. Medium body with off dry flavors of citrus, young pear, apple, and finishing with mochi, cereal, grains, and marshmallow, this brew is literally like drinking the news of the day in sake-making, as there is a cool melon to umami play that features dry fruit tones and a spicy finish. Made with premium Hyogo Yamadanishiki milled to 60%, this is truly chivalrous sake. WORD: Dry WINE: Dry Reds/Crisp Whites BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Izakaya fare all day long, pub fare, greasy, grilled, fried, savory, and American sushi.
From Aichi Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo. SMV: +5 Acidity: 1.7
The nose on this well-packaged Ginjo is a slick collection of grape, apple, melon, bread, grains, cereal, and powder sugar aromas. So what’s the story with this newspaper-clad bottle of sake? It’s the news, silly! The newspaper is a cool way of keeping UV light away from the contents of this bottle, that would appeal to dry wine drinkers of note. Light, slippery, crisp, compact, with a tannin-like dryness that drinks with astringency (shibumi) and has a playful uptick acidity. Medium body with off dry flavors of citrus, young pear, apple, and finishing with mochi, cereal, grains, and marshmallow, this brew is literally like drinking the news of the day in sake-making, as there is a cool melon to umami play that features dry fruit tones and a spicy finish. Made with premium Hyogo Yamadanishiki milled to 60%, this is truly chivalrous sake. WORD: Dry WINE: Dry Reds/Crisp Whites BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Izakaya fare all day long, pub fare, greasy, grilled, fried, savory, and American sushi.
Shishi no Sato ‘”Shun”
From Ishikawa Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo. SMV: -1 Acidity: 1.6
The nose on this sake that is called “Moments” is world class and features an array of melon, lime, grape, papaya, mochi, cake icing, ginger, and green grass aromas. Smooth, light, bright, velvety, soft, clean, and slightly spritzy, this is exciting sake that represents some of the best Yamadanishiki brewing rice from Hyogo, and impeccable sake-making skills. With an ABV of only 14%, this is very drinkable sake that has a nice Ginjo attitude. Note the technique-driven crisp and snappy texture, with a quick "kire" finish. Look for pear, green apple, young mango, lime, rock sugar, green tea, and green grape flavors that jump with a nice astringency and an overall dry complexity flow. Great nose and great sake, this is a treat for sake fans. WORD: Expressive WINE: Crisp Reds/Tight Whites BEER: Crisp Clean Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, vegetables, grilled fish and chicken, and white wine fare.
From Ishikawa Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo. SMV: -1 Acidity: 1.6
The nose on this sake that is called “Moments” is world class and features an array of melon, lime, grape, papaya, mochi, cake icing, ginger, and green grass aromas. Smooth, light, bright, velvety, soft, clean, and slightly spritzy, this is exciting sake that represents some of the best Yamadanishiki brewing rice from Hyogo, and impeccable sake-making skills. With an ABV of only 14%, this is very drinkable sake that has a nice Ginjo attitude. Note the technique-driven crisp and snappy texture, with a quick "kire" finish. Look for pear, green apple, young mango, lime, rock sugar, green tea, and green grape flavors that jump with a nice astringency and an overall dry complexity flow. Great nose and great sake, this is a treat for sake fans. WORD: Expressive WINE: C
Hatsusakura "Taro 2021"
From Shiga Prefecture. Junmai Kimoto. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this traditionally made (pole-rammed) brew is a great collection of apple, sweet potato, mochi, steamed rice, lemon tart, muscat, and apple juice aromas. All you wine drinkers take note of a sake that has a plump acidity and some tannin-like dryness that rocks in a white wine glass. There is also some astringency (shibumi), with elevated acidity, and a savory finish, which showcases that traditional pole-rammed brewing technique. Look for green apple, brioche, nougat, lemon tart, watermelon, caramel, and citrus flavors that push through the palate. Classic Kimoto sake that drinks close to the wine world. WORD: Citrus WINE:Tannin Reds/Crisp Whites BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Izakaya fare, salty, savory, greasy, fried, and grilled.
From Shiga Prefecture. Junmai Kimoto. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this traditionally made (pole-rammed) brew is a great collection of apple, sweet potato, mochi, steamed rice, lemon tart, muscat, and apple juice aromas. All you wine drinkers take note of a sake that has a plump acidity and some tannin-like dryness that rocks in a white wine glass. There is also some astringency (shibumi), with elevated acidity, and a savory finish, which showcases that traditional pole-rammed brewing technique. Look for green apple, brioche, nougat, lemon tart, watermelon, caramel, and citrus flavors that push through the palate. Classic Kimoto sake that drinks close to the wine world. WORD: Citrus WINE:
Zaku Selection “N”
From Mie Prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo Genshu. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this very special limited run sake is an elegant collection of grape, pear, orange, pineapple, papaya, perfume, and rock sugar aromas. We love sake breweries that honor and celebrate their master brewer “Toji.” And so when Zaku told their Toji Tomohiro Uchiyama to pick a tank that he likes he picked this brew and they called it Selection N. Smooth, round, gentle, with a little spritz, this Daiginjo drinks with a light and slippery glide through the palate. Consider it almost rich-light and look for layers of soft flavors like papaya, ripe melon, vanilla, rock sugar, pineapple, and pear juice that don’t drink bulky but rather slippery and juicy. The masterpiece part of this selection is that amongst gentle fruit tones like Mandarin orange you get a very nice umami play that ends with a quick and dry finish. Best served chilled in a white wine glass. WORD: Special WINE: Gentle Reds/Fruity Whites BEER: Light Ales FOODS: Excellent by itself, very gentle fare like sashimi, poached white fish, tofu, and fruit plates.
From Mie Prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo Genshu. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this very special limited run sake is an elegant collection of grape, pear, orange, pineapple, papaya, perfume, and rock sugar aromas. We love sake breweries that honor and celebrate their master brewer “Toji.” And so when Zaku told their Toji Tomohiro Uchiyama to pick a tank that he likes he picked this brew and they called it Selection N. Smooth, round, gentle, with a little spritz, this Daiginjo drinks with a light and slippery glide through the palate. Consider it almost rich-light and look for layers of soft flavors like papaya, ripe melon, vanilla, rock sugar, pineapple, and pear juice that don’t drink bulky but rather slippery and juicy. The masterpiece part of this selection is that amongst gentle fruit tones like Mandarin orange you get a very nice umami play that ends with a quick and dry finish. Best served chilled in a white wine glass. WORD: Special WINE: Gentle Reds/Fruity Whites BEER: Light Ales FOODS: Excellent by itself, very gentle fare like sashimi, poached white fish, tofu, and fruit plates.