Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Kaibin Jyuuri Ni Kaoru Junmai Daiginjo

Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City is a bit of a maverick in Shizuoka Prefecture as they are the only one brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture not using the Shizuoka yeast.

Moreover they do not participate to sake competitions organised by the Association of Shizuoka Brewers in spite of their membership.

The result is that their sake, although celebrated beyond our borders, are difficult to obtain even in Shizuoka as they are distributed only by a few sake shops.
I nonetheless, and especially the Missus and ladies in general, like them and am always looking for limited brews such as this one!

Rice: Aiyama (Hyogo Prefecture) 100%
Rice milled down to 40%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees (genshu)
Dryness: + 1
Acidity: 1.3
Bottled in March 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Complex and elegant. Pears, rice, pineapple
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Dry, well-rounded fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex and fruity, almost sweet
Disappears fairly quickly on a somewhat drier note.
Apricots, nuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, faint hints of coffee and dark chocolate.
Insistently calls for the next cup.
Very easy to drink in spite of its high alcohol contents.
Although obviously to be enjoyed on its own drinks well with food with little change.

Overall: A beautiful, almost mysterious sake.
Splendid aperitif although I suspect it would make for the perfect night cap with a special chocolate.
To be drunk only in the company of connoisseurs or lovers!

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