HAGINISHIKI TOCHI NO UTA (AKI NO JUNMAÏ ) tasting

Jacky Royer

7 months ago

HAGINISHIKI TOCHI NO UTA (AKI NO JUNMAÏ ) tasting

Haginishiki Brewery in Shizuoka City recently started this new concept seasonal limited edition called Haginishiki Aki/Autumn no Junmai Tochi No Uta/Song Of The Land.

Like Haginishiki no Niwa/Haginishiki Garden the label design was ordered by Ayano Hagiwara, the daughter and second brewmaster.

Rice: Hitokogochi (Nagano Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 70%
Dryness: +5
Acidity: 1.8
Yeast: Sake Association No 9
Brewed in 2020
Bottled in October 2021

Clarity: Very clear

Color: Light golden hue

Aroma: Dry, fruity. Pineapple, faint bananas.

Taste: Very light and dry and fruity attack backed up by a little Junmai petillant and delicious alcohol warming up the whole palate.

Complex. Walnuts, chestnuts, dry plums, faint mandarines.

Lingers for a while before departing on more floral notes and strong nuts.

Changes little with food, not affecting the latter whatsoever.

Very easy to drink all the way through.

Comments: A straightforward but eminently enjoyable sake, more complex than expected. Could come as a surprise temperature is involved.

The type of sake that will please any gender and age you can enjoy before, during or after a meal, or away from food. Drinks like a dry but complex white wine! A sure value!

Recommended pairings: Its light and dry nature makes it perfect to accompany difficult to pair dishes such a fresh oysters and asparaguses. Vegetable salads, sashimi, sushi.