Minakata Gokukara Junmai Hiire

The first impression is on the nose, where bright stone fruit notes stand out—green apple and pear most clearly—layered with a faint spiciness. On the palate, the entry is smooth but carries plenty of weight, with an almost creamy texture. There is a gentle sweetness that comes through from the rice, balanced by a clean acidity, and the extreme dryness suggested by its +20 measure feels surprisingly approachable rather than harsh. The finish is long, crisp and slightly spicy, with the flavour of rice remaining clearly present. As a pasteurised but otherwise unprocessed and undiluted sake, it shows both intensity and clarity. It left such a strong impression that we placed it among our Top 10.

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Appearance: clear and lemon
Nose: fruity and spicy, medium+ intensity
Aroma: rice
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: medium
Umami: medium+
Alcohol: high (!)
Body: full
Flavour intensity: medium
Flavour characteristics: dry, spicy
Texture: standard
Finish: lingering, clean, crisp
Quality level: excellent