New Store Arrivals: Senkin, Nanbu Bijin, Kaze no Mori, Nishida, and Kaika
Senkin Nature Organic 2023
From Tochigi Prefecture. Kimoto Kioke Junmai. SMV: -7 Acidity: 2.5
The nose on this one-of-a-kind organic and throwback sake is a stupendous collection of marmalade, Italian bread, salted butter, raisin bran, peach, melon, rice cracker, and taffy aromas. Take an ancient rice varietal Kameno-O, mill it to 90%, and ferment it in a wood tank aka Kioke and what do you get? You get a pretty gosh darn amazing sake that is extremely well respected in the "serious" sake community. And you also get a sake that drinks great! Slightly spritzy, light, bright, zesty, and with a lively water-like texture this old style sake drinks in a very new world modern sake capacity. Look for a massive bouquet of flavors including vanilla custard, saltwater taffy, melon, orange, cherry, coconut water, and Lemonheads™ with an uptick citrus finish that is quick and lively. This brew is very limited so do not hesitate, and buy it whenever you have a chance. WORD: Organic WINE: Zesty Reds/Crisp Whites BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Grilled fare, hearty cuisines, meat and chops, duck, burgers, and fine dining.
From Iwate Prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo. SMV: +3 Acidity: 1.4
The nose on this ultra Daiginjo is a terrific collection of rum raisin, melon, mango, white blossom, sesame, strawberry, fennel pollen, rice pudding, and coffee aromas. In a word, this is a difficult sake to get! They do not release a lot of it from Iwate Prefecture for good reason, as it is a prototypical high-end sushi counter sake. Milled to 35%, this brew is round, smooth, lush, bright, seamless, and has a professional high acidity that appeals to wine drinkers. Look for Asian pear, persimmon, kumquat, dried apricot, candy corn, lemon, flint, dark cocoa, and caramel flavors that glide on a slippery fluid, with shibumi and a tannin-like dryness this is like liquid complexity in a glass. Wine drinkers and dry sake lovers rejoice as you are towering over “Ancient Pillars.” WORD: Complex WINE: Dry Reds/Vast Whites BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, steak, porkchops, lamb, game, complex pastas, and smoked fish, meats, and cheese.
Kaze No Mori “Pink Label Wind of the Woods"
From Nara Prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo Muroka Nama Genshu. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this superb offering from a very cult sake brewery is a splendid collection of jack fruit, rose water, aloe, mint, vanilla, White Rabbit Creamy Candy™, and white blossom aromas. This is the Daiginjo version of the “Black Label,” which is made with a local consumption or “food” rice Tsuyuhakaze milled to 50%. Say hello to a fun sake! Say hello to a sake with a smile! Say hello to a sake that we know the brewers had fun making! This is the ultimate point of sake right – to be fun and taste great. Bright, light, spritzy, lively, effervescent, and tingly, this brew is not silly. Rather it is a refreshing and expressive sake that features elegant spritz. Some sakes are made, this “Pink Label” is built to achieve something and that is to highlight an amazing flavor field of grapefruit, ginger, tangerine, crème brulée, kiwi, Milkis™ soft drink, Tokyo Banana™, and mint tea flavors. Refreshingly complex sake that has a creamy medium body on a spritzy flow (how do they do that?) that is simply fun sake. WORD: Fun WINE: Zesty Reds/Effervescent Whites BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Sashimi, shellfish, oysters, caviar, meat, cheese and fruit boards, Champagne fare.
From Aomori Prefecture. Junmai. SMV: ±0 Acidity: 1.5
We’ve been selling this hyper allocated and super popular benchmark Junmai sake for almost two decades, and have decided to update our review of this brew that should be on every sake enthusiast's bucket list. The nose on this “Country Squire” brew is a cool collection of pear, apple pie, straw, sunflower seeds, nougat, vanilla cream, stewed prunes, trail mix, and steamed rice aromas. The flavors and feelings of Denshu have “modernized” and are now of the light, semi-spritzy, fresh, buoyant, and gently effervescent ilk. This is an old-school Junmai that has gone back to the new school for a more refreshing and Ginjo-like drinking experience. There is a very nice shibumi and tannin-like dryness that appeals to wine drinkers, with a professional clean and quick kire finish. Look for Asian pear, sour dough, cooked apples, brown sugar, mandarin orange, trail mix, and steamed rice, with a touch of white pepper and a healthy push of umami. A classic brew that has modernized just a bit! WORD: Umami WINE: Complex Reds/Lively Whites BEER: Big Ales FOODS: Grilled everything, yakitori, meats and roasts, and everything from the ocean.
From Tochigi Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo Sparkling. SMV: -1 Acidity: 2.5
The nose on this Sparkling sake is a cool collection of green apple, white bread, unripe banana, peach, rice cracker, and steamed rice aromas. Yes - A sparkling brew that actually reminds you that you’re drinking rice and water and not grape juice. Clean, crisp, medium bodied, with gentle bubbles that drink with a little creaminess, this Champagne-like sake works wonders in a tall flute. Not too dry and not too sweet, look for mochi, cream, Asian pear, crème brûlée, apple, pear, blueberry, melon, lime, pomelo, nougat, and lots of steamed rice flavors on a slightly viscous flow that refreshes the palate. There are a lot of Sparkling sakes out there, and this one belongs with the cream of the crop! WORD: Champagne WINE: Sparkling Wines BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, and Champagne fare.