Nanbu Bijin Junmai Daiginjo "Ancient Pillars"

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.