New Store Arrivals – Gokyo Nama, the Fisherman, and Jozen Genshu

Gokyo “Arabashiri ‘16”
From Yamaguchi Prefecture. Junmai Nama Genshu. SMV: +2 Acidity: 1.
$42/720ml

The wonderful nose on this spring released unpasteurized sake is a fun collection of apple, lime, banana, yeast and bright fruit tones. Whooo Hooo! This nama sake has always been a great story teller! It is vibrant and filled with action and so damn lively! And that’s the point of fresh sake right? It’s big, zesty, bright, rich and racy! And you cannot run from the flavorful vein of banana that pops and jumps around on the brash fluid. A smaller glass makes the experience all the more lively and a larger glass takes down the action. A mid size glass captures the feeling and flavor and let’s this zest bomb do it’s thing. The elevated alcohol content is countered by all of the lively flavors and the result is a tropical party in your glass. This is nama sake, and it also happens to be one of our favorites to age WORD: Lively WINE: Beaujolais/Complex Whites BEER: Huge Belgians FOODS: Anything on a stick, covered in salt, and grilled!

Shiokawa Shokujo “Fisherman”
From Niigata Prefecture. Sokujo Junmai Ginjo.. SMV: -13 Acidity: 2.1
$28/720ml

The nose on this seafood friendly sake is a gentle collection of cherry, minerals, sweet rice, rose water and fruity tones. This is the sister sake to the Cowboy Yamahai, which is made for pairing with meats, and is made to pair with everything from the sea. It has many white wine qualities, but drinks like a sake that is light, clean, and very smooth. There are fruit tones slipping around but what is noticeable is the very gentle nature of this sake that does better in a larger glass.

White wine fans would love this brew that has a little lower alcohol content than the average sake. It is such an even brew that does wonders with shellfish, so much so that there is a crab on the label. Take note of the SMV and the acidity and you will understand why this is a different sake of sorts. WORD: Light WINE: Clean Whites BEER: Clean Ales FOODS: Ummmmm seafood! Ha!

Shiritaki Jozen “Red”
From Niigata Prefecture. Nama Ginjo Genshu. SMV: +4 Acidity: 1.7
$44/720ml

For a brief review please see our new section at the website called “The Sake Spotlight”