Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Takashima Brewery-Hakuin Masamune Yamahai Junmai

I felt it was about grand time I tasted this year’s Yamahai Junmai by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City as it is increasingly being recognized all over Japan!

A great place to taste such a nectar is A Votre Sante in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Cha Machi, not nly because you can buy and taste it on site by the glass but also combine it with a superb cheese such as the Sakura, a splendid raw cow’s milk cheese created in Hokkaido!

kazutaka Takashima/高嶋一孝, a 34-year old brew master is steadily becoming the focus of many sake pundits all over Japan as witnessed by his regular appearances in top magazine, and the name “Hakuin Masamune/白隠正宗” has become a must in sake tasting events! When it comes to Yamahai he is simply heads and shoulders above everyone thanks to passionate research and incredible dedication.

Rice: Ginfukuyuki/吟吹雪
Rice milled down to 65%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Dryness: + 3
Acidity: 1.5
Bottled in February 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: assertive and fruity. Cherries, marshmallow, macadamia nuts
Body: fluid
Taste: well-rounded and Very fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex. Macadamia nuts, almonds, dark chocolate, dark cherries.
Lingers only for a while before departing with more nuts, custard and dry milk coffee.
Varies little with food but for a sweeter note with more milk coffee.
The dark cherries tend to make an insistent comeback with every sip.

Overall: A superb sake in spite/or because of its yamahai status.
Very complex with ever-changing facets. Will stump many a sake sommelier!
Eminently enjoyable on its own, although I have to confess it will become difficult to eat cheese without it!
The perfect present for a sake lover away from Shizuoka Prefecture!

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