New Store Arrivals – Katsuyama(s), Mutsu Hassen, Gasanryu, Daishichi, Akashi Tai, Shimeharitsuru

Katsuyama Ken
From Miyagi Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo. SMV: +4 Acidity: 1.6

The nose on this IWC Champion sake is a unique collection of melon, berry, straw, bread, lemon, stone fruit, and rice aromas. Smooth, round, crisp, and dry this sake is made with Yamadanishiki milled to 50%, which technically makes it a Daiginjo, or just a world class Junmai Ginjo. Very clean, very smooth, very crisp, and dry this sake appeals to those who say, “I only like dry sake.” Look for an array of flavors like apple, young strawberry, blood orange, black berry, pomegranate, cherry, Hawaiian sweet rolls, sweet tomatoes, and brown rice flavors on an astringent (shibumi) flow that is crisp and dry with a flinty finish. This is a very wine-like sake that has tantalizing acidity and lots of flavors that excel in a white wine glass. WORD: Dry WINE: Dry Reds/Crisp Whites BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, grilled fish, Yakitori, dried fish eggs, Carpaccio. $60/720ml

Katsuyama Lei
From Miyagi Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo. SMV: -42 Acidity: 2.0
The nose on this professional sake is a vast collection of grape, banana bread, rock candy, caramel, tangerine, lemon soda, ripe pear, and sweet rice aromas. Say hello to a very important and delicious sake that is a work of wonder for those who like their sake sweet. Soft, ripe, viscous, chewy, lush, and velvety this brew drinks you as much as you drink it. It’s a massive brew that is loaded in flavors and feeling, but overall it’s round and smooth and actually light for all that is going on. If you notice the SMV of -42 then you think sweet right off the bat, and you’re not wrong. But the ABV of 12% and the balance of this sake makes it very drinkable and would appeal to Nigori and Sparkling Sake fans, as well as foodies who love to pair with Sauterne-style wines. Look for sweet lychee, mango, melon, sweet peach, blueberry, grape juice, rock candy, and powder sugar flavors that gush through the palate. It’s aged for a year, so there is a relaxed and lush feeling that works very well in a wine glass. Star Wars fans take note of the accompanying figure while it lasts! WORD: Sweet WINE: Sauterne/Ice Wines BEER: Sweet Ales FOODS: Cheese and fruit plates, Foie Gras, BBQ, International spice, and sweet sauce meat dishes.  $88/720ml

Katsuyama Akatsuki
From Miyagi Prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo Shizuku. SMV: ±0 Acidity: 1.4
The nose on this stellar Ultra Daiginjo made by a Miyagi brewery founded in 1688 is a splendid collection of cantaloupe, pear, stone fruit, cut grass, sugar, and pineapple aromas. Aged for a year, this gravity free drip sake made with Yamadanishiki milled to 35% is smooth, layered, luxurious, juicy, and extremely expressive. In a word it is a masterpiece! In a second word it is elegant intensity. This is one of the most pampered sake in our inventory, which means you can literally taste the intention of the master brewer. What is that intention? Impact. This is one of the most impactful, delicious premium sake you will ever taste. Look for a vast array of deep and profound flavors such as honey crisp apple, pineapple, strawberry, papaya, melon, mango, rock candy with a follow up of ocean water, mineral, raisin, light soy sauce with an umami finish that reminds you that this is rice at its finest. Juicy, bold, and balanced, this Akatsuki is perfection in a glass. WORD: Amazing WINE: Bordeaux/Rich Whites BEER: Fruity Ales FOOD: Champagne fare, oysters, caviar, lobster, foie gras, karasumi. $220/720ml

Mutsu Hassen Gineboshi 40
From Aomori prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo. SMV: -1 Acidity: 1.5
The nose on this sake is made with very local Aomori prefecture rice called Gineboshi milled to 40%, is a gorgeous collection of peach, berry, pear, spring water, apple, plum, and steamed rice aromas. Are you ready to taste techniques in sake making? Are you ready to taste true Nanbu Toji sake that speaks to those who love great feeling and flavor sake? Behold a brew that captures the essence of a brewery and drinks round, slippery, soft, juicy, silky, and incredibly smooth that glides across and above the palate. Look for cooked pear, melon, cooked apple, chicken broth, white bread, pie crust, vanilla, grape, and steamed rice flavors that scream umami and show how rich and round sake can be so balanced. It’s a full-bodied brew that drinks lighter and smoother than most plump sakes, and this is part of that technique. Stunning sake that opens the mind as much as the palate. WORD: Smooth WINE: Soft Reds/Creamy Whites BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, Champagne fare, high-end flavors, luxury items. $104/720ml

Gasanryu Rokka "Crystal Flower"
From Yamagata Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo Muroka Namazume. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this very limited released un-charcoal filtered (Muroka) single pasteurized (Namazume) sake has a gentle collection of blueberry, green grape, mineral, sweet corn, cream, ice melt, and milky aromas. Say hello to a new look from this awesome Yamagata brewery that specializes in light and flavorful sake that awakens the senses. If your sense has a fondness for dry and crisp sake then behold this special brew that is clean, laser tight, and drinks with a little tingle that appeals to clear spirits fans. Look for snow melt, asian pear, young melon, crisp apple, white raspberry, spring water, and snowball flavors on a very precise fluid flow with a quick finish. Dry sake with a clean freshness and cool skiers on the new cool bottle. WORD: Dry WINE: Dry Reds/Crisp Reds BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, yakitori, grilled meats, salty and savory fare, oily and salty izakaya. $39/720ml

Daishichi Yukishibori
From Fukushima Prefecture. Kimoto Honjozo Namachozo Nigori. SMV: ±0 Acidity: 1.4
The nose on this winter season limited released brew is probably the only “Kimoto” traditionally pole-rammed Nigori sake in America is a wonderful collection of cream, yeast, ocean water, rice pudding, sweet milk, pear, and pastry shell aromas. Well, well, well what do we have here? This single pasteurized brew is a happy and effervescent walk into the snowy wonders of fresh Nigori sake that drinks with both stunning complexity and tasty newness. It is both complex and inviting and appeals to any Nigori drinker who wants to taste a new expression of this cloudy goodness. Look for dark chocolate, young fruit, berry, stone fruit, persimmon, nectarine, cream, and lots of umami flavors with a very quick and expressive dry mineral and ricey finish. Active and expressive, this crisp and tight Nigori is rice magic that appeals to Nigori drinkers who like it on the dryer side. It’s fresh and limited so when this Kimoto Nigori is gone it’s gone. WORD: Lively WINE: Sparkling wine BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Cheese plates, fruit plates, American sushi, sparkling wine fare. $36/720ml

Akashi Tai Sparkling
From Hyogo Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo Sparkling. SMV: -46 Acidity: 3.5
The nose on this Junmai Ginjo Sparkling Sake that is “bottle fermented” is a wonderful collection of sherbet, vanilla bean, tangerine, pomello, SweeTarts, coconut milk, and yeasty aromas. Say hello to a crisp, tight, brut-like, dry sparkling sake that has a short clean finish. Can sake be refreshing? You bet! This sake with 7% ABV is a flavorful walk through a compact, tight, and dry fluid filled with yellow apple, green grape, clementine, vanilla, mochi, orange sherbet, and steamed rice flavors. It’s a great palate cleansing experience and is a wonderful example of how rice and water can taste and act like sparkling wine. WORD: Crisp WINE: Sparkling Wine BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Champagne fare, hors d'oeuvre, passing foods.  $24/300ml

Shimeharitsuru Tsuki
From Niigata Prefecture. Honjozo. SMV: +4 Acidity: 1.2
The nose on this extremely cool Niigata-loved sake is a gentle collection of steamed rice, vanilla, mint, hay, toast, and nougat aromas. Stop the presses! This is one of those Bucket List brews that every sake drinker on their sake path should try that is void of the word fruit! There are no fruity aromas, and there are no fruity flavors. Huh? Doesn't that just mean dry ricey sake? Nope it means clean, smooth, soft, creamy, silky, easy, gentle, sake with a brilliant dry finish. It’s so subtle, but is it? Look for powder sugar, nougat, burnt sugar, caramel, vanilla, rock candy, mineral water, and honey ice cream flavors that drink dryer than you would think. This is very cool sake. 100% guaranteed coolness. WORD: Smooth WINE: Light Reds/Creamy Whites BEER: Light Clean Ales FOODS: All day long Izakaya pub fare. $28/720ml