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Harmonious Complexity
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Pale Yellow
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Clear
The Handago opens with a refreshing and fruity nose, inviting anticipation. The initial sip reveals a subtle sweetness, a gentle ginjo aroma and a medium dryness. Subdued acidity and bitterness emerge as they traverse the palate, creating a delicate interplay. The mellow finish carries hints of herbs and anise, while the transformation at room temperature renders it even more well-rounded and smoother. Overall, it is a very palatable choice for discerning connoisseurs.

Nakano Tokusen Kunizakari Junmai Ginjō Handagō Yeast 1801
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A Harmonious Fusion of Sake and Wine
Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
Clarity
Clear
The initial scent is sweet, reminiscent of white wine, with distinct notes of dried fruits. It invites you to take a sip and explore further. The approach is sweet and relatively heavy, coating the palate with a velvety and viscous texture. Surprisingly, there's minimal acidity dicernable, allowing the sweetness to shine through. The finish is mellow and sweet, leaving a delightful aftertaste. This sake beautifully marries the best of both worlds—sake and wine. It's an excellent introduction to the world of sake for wine lovers.

I am more inclined to the sake side of things, hence only three stars. :)

Tamanohikari Junmai Ginjo Tama Wine Yeast
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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
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Clear
The aroma of this sake is delicate, with a fruity sweetness reminiscent of melon, strawberries, and grapes. As you take in the gorgeous scent, it sets the stage for what awaits: an elegant entry with pronounced fruity flavours. The balance between acidity and bitterness is just right, creating a mouthfeel that swirls with complexity. The finish is mellow, leaving you craving more. Shuryū, translating to "mainstream," represents Tatenokawa's commitment to making this Daiginjō their benchmark. Whether enjoyed chilled or at room temperature, it's an exciting experience to compare how the flavours evolve. It becomes mellower and slightly sweeter at room temperature, with earthy undertones. Tatenokawa consistently delivers exceptional sake!

Tatenokawa Junmai Daiginjō Shuryū
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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
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Clear
A bouquet of fruit and flowers greets the nose, followed by a refreshing, medium-bodied sip. The sake is moderately dry, with a harmonious blend of sourness and savoury. The sake reveals a more complex and spicy flavour as the temperature rises. Yaeu Meijo derived from the merger of eight local breweries and aimed to boost sales to the Tokyo area. It's funny that they don't even have their own website.

Yaesu Meijō Miyamanishiki Junmai Ginjō Shiboritate
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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
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Clear
Azakura's Muroka Namagenshu greets the senses with an intense bouquet reminiscent of ripe blueberries and cranberries, interwoven with subtle alcohol notes. The multilayered aroma profile reveals hints of rice, kōji, and tropical fruit, creating a delightful complexity. This sake offers a medium-dry mouthfeel on the palate, striking a harmonious balance. The acidity is pronounced, lending a refreshing and lively character. Flavours linger as you savour each sip, leaving a sour and intriguing finish accompanied by delicate bitter undertones. This limited-edition sake is a true enigma—a blend of freshness and depth. Its robust taste makes it easy to enjoy, appealing to seasoned connoisseurs and those new to the world of sake—a captivating choice for discerning palates seeking complexity and mystery—our latest favourite.


Azakura Junmai Muroka Namagenshu
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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
Clarity
Clear
The initial encounter is a delicate interplay—a subtle nose reminiscent of sun-dried fruits. Imagine apricots and figs, their warmth carried on a gentle breeze. Then, the sake reveals its true character—a mild, silky approach enveloping the palate. Here, an intense mouthfeel bursts forth. Picture honeyed sweetness, akin to golden nectar, caressing the taste buds. But this sweetness is no mere indulgence; it transforms—a metamorphosis into something more. The balance is exquisite—the sweetness gracefully yields a refreshing acidity, a crispness that plays against a backdrop of stimulating bitterness. And then, the finale—a lingering finish that resonates like the echo of a distant bell. Here, the sake whispers of subtle sourness, a memory of green apples and white grapes. But there's an additional layer—a spicy tingle and a hint of warmth. The sake transforms as the glass warms to room temperature—it becomes smoother and lovelier, revealing hidden nuances and more layers of complexity.

nozaki-kisho-junmai-ginjo.jpg
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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
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Clear
First off, Hakutsuru Blanc is not your regular sake. Made of a blend of wine and sake yeast, it resembles more white wine than sake. Hakutsuru calls it an "ideal sake" for beginners and women (sic!). Low in alcohol and with a fantastic fragrance of sweet white wine, one could debate whether it is still within the realm of nihonshu. The Blanc exhibits a yellow-greenish hue. On the nose, it offers a sweet and fruity aroma with hints of koji. As you sip, the wine yeast takes centre stage, resulting in a sweet and fruity flavour profile with a touch of acidity and a pronounced floral accent. It's very palatable, nevertheless.

Hakutsuru Blanc
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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
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Clear
This sake begins with a gentle aroma—a soft nose that hints at fruity sweetness. Picture the delicate essence of ripe strawberries, the juicy melon, and the subtle allure of banana.

As you take your first sip, the sake envelops your palate in a mellow embrace. Creamy-sweet notes unfold, caressing your taste buds with a velvety touch. The journey continues—a smooth and well-rounded mid-palate, devoid of harsh acidity. Instead, a faint bitterness lingers, adding depth. The finish, though brief, leaves a lasting impression. This sake dances on the tongue, refreshing and contemplative. Its fruity aroma promises delight. With each sip, umami unfolds, harmonizing with the flavours of a fish-based nabe.

Ōzeki Sōke Ōzakaya Junmai Daiginjō
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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
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Clear
Ichinokura's new Junmai Ginjo has a fruity aroma with sharp notes. The entry is mellow and subdued, but the mid-palate is more powerful with aromas of dried fruits, herbs, and green. The finish is spicy with bitter notes. It is an excellent food sake that pairs well with a variety of dishes.

Released by Ichinokura in 2023, it uses Sasanishiki rice, a Miyagi food rice that is challenging for sake due to its small and soft grains. Despite these challenges, Ichinokura has created a sake that is both unique and delicious.

Ichinokura Junmai Ginjo
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Pale Yellow
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Clear
Kamitaka Nakatori has a fruity nose of green apples and pears. The palate displays a great balance of sweetness and acidity, with a medium dry, fruity and rich taste. The finish is short with a spicy-bitter tingle. It is slightly sweet (やや甘口) and becomes more well-rounded and sweeter around room temperature. Overall, it is a brilliant sake that will delight your taste buds!

Kamitaka Junmai Ginjo Nakatori
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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
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Clear
The Mountain Stream is a luxurious sake bottled only from the nakadori (中取り) portion of the sake, which is said to have the best flavour balance during the squeezing process. It has a fruity nose with spicy notes and is medium-bodied with a fine texture. The entry shows a slight sweetness, relatively strong acidity, and bitterness that dominates the mouthfeel and finish. The finish is long and spicy. This sake is best served cold to room temperature but retains its deliciousness even when warmed. It goes well with any food, making it the perfect drink to accompany a meal.

Tatenogawa Junmai Daiginjō Utsukushikikeiryū
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Pale Yellow
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Clear
Kikusui's "Uncrowned Emperor" is a well-established product that has been around for over forty years. It is a namazume, Kikusui's very own innovation to deliver a fresh ("nama") taste with consistent quality. The sake is pasteurised once after being squeezed but not pasteurised when bottled. This non-pasteurised process is supposed to protect the taste and quality, preserve the freshness, and seal in the rich flavour obtained through ageing.

The sake has a sweet nose of dried fruits and a light body with a clear and dry aroma. It has a nice umami flavour and a long, bitter finish with a bitter tingle. The bottle is very stylish and cool. It comes in a slender Bordeaux wine-shaped bottle with a blue base colour, giving it an elegant feel—the embossed finish sparkles when it catches the light.

Overall, Kikusui's "Uncrowned Emperor" is a subtle, smooth, and well-balanced sake with quite a distinct flavour profile and a stylish bottle. Despite its complexity, it does not have a strong punch.

Kikusui Mukantei Ginjō Namazume
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Pale Yellow
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Clear
We revisited Kita-Akita's Junmai Daiginjo and can confirm what we established in our first review: sweet and mellow, slightly dry with minimal acidity. It is elegant and mellow and should be paired with more subtle dishes.

Hokushika Kita-Akita Junmai Daiginjo
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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
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Clear
This Shibori sake has a sweet nose with notes of custard cream and caramel. It is light-bodied with a smooth and slightly sweet entry. A gorgeous aroma of green apples accompanies the refreshing and round mouthfeel. A bitter aftertaste follows the long and sour finish. Shibori is a method of collecting the first squeeze of the new sake. This process results in a delicate and nuanced flavour profile perfectly complemented by the refreshing green apple notes in this sake.

Shichiken's Ichibanshibori is available from the end of November.

Shichiken Ichibanshibori Junmai Ginjō
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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
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Clear
Ippongi Denshin Rin Junmai Daiginjō boasts a fruity aroma of strawberries, peaches, and bananas. It has a medium body with a silky texture and a sweet taste that transforms into a savoury bitterness—overall, it is sophisticated and smooth.

On a side note, it is interesting that it is not always a brewery's top line that tops their line—after all, it's a question of taste. ;)

Ippongi Denshin Rin Junmai Daiginjō
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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
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Clear
Kikusui Shiboritate Honjōzō Namagenshu has a nose of dried fruits, narazuke pickles, and resins. The sake is pale straw-coloured with a slightly viscous, creamy texture and a medium body. The entry is sweet and velvety with a bitter-sweet mouthfeel, medium dryness, and some umami. The sake is rich and has a short, clean finish with a sour tingle.

Kikusui Shiboritate Honjōzō Namagenshu
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Colour / hue
Gold
Clarity
Clear
Dried fruits, resins, and turpentine characterize the aroma of this sake. It has a golden hue and a slightly viscous texture that is creamy. The medium body of the sake leans towards heavy, with a relatively sweet entry and a strong aroma of alcohol and turpentine. The sweetness is based on a sweet layer of resins and grapes balanced against a touch of acidity. The finish is long and mellow. It feels slightly dry, although the brewery claims an SMV of +6 and an acidity of 2.1

We look forward to sampling more of Azakura's delicious brews.

Azakura Tokubetsu Junmai Nakatori Genteihin
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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
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Clear
Tatenogawa Muga Red Bottle Junmai Daiginjō is the top of Tatenokawa's Muga series and is made with Yukimegami rice. The sake has a fruity nose of white grapes, green apples, and pear. It has a smooth and fine texture, and is light to medium-bodied. Compared to the Dewa33 and Miyamanishiki versions, it is sweeter and has a sweet mouthfeel with a great balance of umami and acidity. The finish is short and crisp with herbal notes. Overall, the Tatenokawa Muga sake is a delightful and refreshing drink that is perfect for those who prefer a sweeter taste. The fruity aroma and sweet mouthfeel make it an excellent choice for pairing with dishes that have a strong flavor and sweetness, such as prawn miso, northern prawns (amaebi), and scallops. It is best served chilled.

Tatenogawa Muga Red Bottle Junmai Daiginjō (楯野川無我 レッドボトル 純米大吟醸)
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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
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Clear
Tatenokawa Muga Platinum Bottle Junmai Daiginjō has a sweet aroma with prominent notes of fungi and floral elements. It has a fine texture and is medium-bodied. It is sweeter than the Green Bottle and has a pleasing crispness and effervescence. The finish is slightly bitter with a sour tingle. Overall, it is a very pleasing sake with a crisper character thanks to Miyamanishiki rice.

Tatenokawa Muga Platinum Bottle Junmai Daiginjō

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Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
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Clear
Mitobe Yamagata Masamune Junmai Ginjō Inazō has a fruity aroma with citrusy notes and a hint of white grapes and alcohol. It has a smooth entry with sweet notes and a creamy texture. The sake is medium-bodied with a sour mouthfeel and a bitter tingle. It also has a slight effervescence. The finish is long and clean. When served at room temperature, the sake becomes silkier and smoother while retaining its refreshing sourness.

Mitobe Yamagata Masamune Junmai Ginjō Inazō
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