Tag Archives: La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City

Eikun Brewery, Japanese sake, La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Yui

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Eikun Brewery (Yui) Junmai Ginjo Muroka Nama Genshu (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

April 5, 2020 dragonlife Leave a comment

I have said it time and again, when it comes to tasting local sake I often do it In La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City in the company of Hiromi Hasegawa as it is cheaper and certainly more entertaining! That is at least for only a part of the vast array of nectars being brewed in this Prefecture! LOL

This time I tasted an Eikun Brewery (Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, Yui) sake with a very long name!
Eikun Junmai Ginjo Muroka nama Genshu, meaning a junmai ginjo which went through no modification ever!

Rice: Bizen Omachi (Okayama Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Yeast: Shizuoka yeast
Alcohol: ;17 degrees
Dryness: -2
Amino acids: 1.7
Bottled in March 2020

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: discreet, dry fruity.
Green apple, flowers, pineapple

Tasting: Very fruity attack. Complex. Plums, raisins, flowers, almonds.
Very soft on the tongue in spite of its high alcohol contents. Stays longer on palate and tongue than usual. Finishes on a sweeter note with the appearance of melons.
Tends to turn drier with food with appearance of mikan, grapefruit and tamagoyaki.
Very complex, probably because of its nama/unpasteurized and muroka/unfiltered status.

Comments: very elegant, notwithstanding the fact it is nama genshu/unpasturized and no water blended.
Very easy to drink. Should please both genders at any time of afternoon or evening.
Might be best appreciated as a digetsif.

Recommended pairings: cheese, chocolate, marinated foods.

LA SOMMELIERE

420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 7-5, Aiseido Bldg, 1F
Tel. & Fax: 054-266-5085
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00, 12:00~18:00 on Sundays & National Holidays
FACEBOOK (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, Oomuraya Brewery, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-Wakatake Tokubetsu Junmai Oniotome Sachi (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

January 1, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

I don’t mind repeating it all the time but I prefer conducting sake tastings in the right environment but not many places are propitious for that exercise or willing to help.
But La Sommeliere in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City is certainly becoming a habit as not only I can conduct my tasting in the best conditions possible but also exchange views at the same time!

Tis tasting is about a favorite brewery of mine, namely Oomuraya Brewery in Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture!
It is the third of Oniotome/the Ogre Princess series, a sake collection acquiring fame all the country!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefectur)
Rice both milled down to 60%
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW 5
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 1
Acidity: 1.4
Amino acids: 1.4
Bottled in August 2018

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: subtle, floral and fruity. Pineapple, banana.
Body: fluid
Tate: soft dry attack. Flowers. Very dry pears and apples. Dry raisins.
Disappearsquickly enough warming up back of the palate with plums and oranges.
Tends to mellow down with food and end on a sweeter note.
Comments: very elegant and dry sake, typical of Oomuraya Brewery. Very sophisticated in spite of the modest Homare Fuji rice. Makes for a splendid aperitif!
Recommende pairings: Fresh asparagus, sashimi.

LA SOMMELIERE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Eikun Brewery, La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Eikun Brewery-Yamahai Junmai /Look Before You Leap(conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

December 17, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Recent years have seen quite a few breweries in Shizuoka Prefecture tackle the difficult creation of Yamahai.

This time it is Eikun Brewery in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City which produced a yamahai Junmai!

With the addition of an interesting subtitle: -Look before you leap- although the Japanese translation somewhat differs!

Rice: Hyakumangoku (Toyama Prefecture) as the Kojimai/麹米, leavened rice
Donmanaka (Akita Prefecture) as the kakemai/掛米, added rice
Rice both milled down to 60%
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW 5
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 7
Acidity: 1.6
Bottled in September 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma dry, soft and fruity. Plums, custard, mandarines, melon
Body: fluid, almost sirupy
Taste: dry and very fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: melon, custard, plums.
Lingers for a while on the palate before departing on drier notes of dark chocolate and custard.
Tends to linger with a drier and drier accent. mandarins and dry nuts make a late appearance.
Varies little with food.

Overall: Very elegant for a Yamahai and drinks very easily.
Can be truly enjoyed at any temperatures.
Definitely conceived to accompany food.
Great on its own but would be more appreciated either as an aperitif or a fine dry white wine.
Suggested pairings: ankimo, cheese, quiche.

LA SOMMELIERE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, sake, Sake Brewery, Sanwa Brewery, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Fukurotsuri Shizuku Junmai Ginjo Nama Genshu Homarefuji (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

August 29, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

This time we tasted a nectar produced by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

As usual it bears a long name!
Fukurotsuri Shizuku (the sake is filtered through a suspended cloth bag drip by drip) Junmai (no pure rice alcohol blended in) Ginjo Nama (unpasteurized) Genshu (no pure water blended in) Homarefuji (sake rice grown in Shizuoka Prefecture)!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 5%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Dryness: + 5
Acidity: 1.5
Bottled in May 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: very dry. Greens, water spinach (kuushinsai)
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and vegetables backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex. Lychees, faint dark chocolate, star fruit.
Lingers for a while before departing on more notes of sweet and sour vegetables.
Ends up more complex and dry with rise in temperature.
Varies little with food.

Overall: a very unusual sake, difficult to classify and the more intriguing for it.
Taste it first chilled to later discover more and more new facets with rise in temperature.
A discovery!
Suggested pairings: Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines, mabodofu, dry curry rice.

LA SOMMELIERE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, Oomuraya Brewery, sake, Sake Breweries, Shimada City, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-Wakatake Premium Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Homarefuji (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

May 8, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

This time we tasted a very special and extravagant sake by Oomuraya Brewery in Shimada City!

Wakatake Premium Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Homarefuji!
This is still the only Junami Daiginjo made with Shziuoka Prefecture-grown Homarefuji sake rice in the whole Prefecture!

It was conceived by Master Brewer Wataru Hibino/日比野哲杜氏!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40%
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Single pasteurization
Dryness: + 3
Acidity: 1.3
Amino acids: 1.1
Yeast: Shizuoka HD-1
Bottled in April 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive and fruity. Lychees, faint pears, melon and banana.
Body: fluid. Slightly sirupy
Taste: Strong, dry and fruity attack backed with beautiful junmai petillant.
Complex: oranges, lychees.
Lingers for a while on the palate before departing on drier notes of oranges and apricots.
Lychees make a constant comeback with every sip.
Very pleasant alcohol but not overwhelming in spite of its high contents. Will actually milder with rise of temperature.

Overall: Extravagant, elegant and really masculine despite its complexity.
Will of course please ladies thanks to its superlative balance in strength and elegance.
A sake which ought to be tasted and enjoyed on its own but if you must absolutely pair it I would recommend blue cheese, chocolate, foie gras or broiled conger eel.
Definitely a high class digestif!
At its best slightly chilled, but beware of its alcohol contents! LOL

LA SOMMELIERE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, Oomuraya Brewery, sake, Sake Breweries, Shimada City, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-Wakatake Junmai Ginjo Homarefuji (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

April 28, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

On Friday, April 22nd, A special sake tasting party was held at La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, with Master Brewer Wataru Hibino/日比野哲杜氏 who brought four different sake all made with Shizuoka-grown homarefuji sake rice!

The four sake!
All Junmai (that is no pure rice alcohol blended in!)!

Our fourth tasting was a Junmai Ginjai would eventually be called Wakatake Junmai Ginjo!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: + 2
Acidity: 1.4
Amino acids: 1.2
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Bottled in March 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Banana
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: banana, vanilla, almonds, lychees.
Lingers for a while before departing on notes of sweetish lychees.
Varies little with food but for some oranges.

Overall: Another elegant and intriguing sake!
Would do do well with any vegetable-based food although eminently enjoyable on its own!
Suggested pairings: Shrimps salad, bamboo shoots dishes.

LA SOMMELIERE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, Oomuraya Brewery, sake, Sake Breweries, Shimada City, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-“Take No Kaze” Junmai Daiginjo Homarefuji (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

April 27, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The four sake!
All Junmai (that is no pure rice alcohol blended in!)!

Our third tasting was Junmai Daiginjo which will be called “Take no Kaze/Wind in the Bamboos” when it is bottled!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 50%
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.2
Amino acids: 1.0
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Bottled in April 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and discreet. Pears.
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and dry fruity attack backed up a little junmai petillant.
Lingers for a little while before departing on drier notes of lychees, and coffee beans.
Turns a little sweetish with food at first but quickly switches back to dryness.

Overall: Intriguing sake.
But a dangerous ones as it slyly entices you to try the next cup and the next cup!
Just superb!
Suggested pairings: light vegetable stews.

LA SOMMELIERE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, Oomuraya Brewery, sake, Sake Breweries, Shimada City, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-“Oniotome Koi” Tokubetsu Junmai Nama Homarefuji (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

April 23, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The four sake!
All Junmai (that is no pure rice alcohol blended in!)!

Our second tasting was the summer edition of the now famous “Oniotome/The Goblin’s Fiancee” seasonal series called “koi/Falling in Love”!
It is a Tokubetsu Junmai (no pure rice alcohol blended in) Nama (unpasteurized)

Rice : Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: + 1
Acidity: 1.4
Amino acids: 1.3
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Bottled in March 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Banana, vanilla, lychees
Body: fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed up with pleasant junmai petillant.
Complex: lychees, oranges.
Very soft on the palate.
Lingers for a while before departing on drier notes of oranges.
Tends to get drier with food.

Overall: Another sake for all seasons in spite of the fact it is a summer edition!
Definitely becoming a classic!
Best enjoyed on its own, although it will marry easily with food!
Suggested pairings: Sashimi, vegetable salads.

LA SOMMELIERE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, Oomuraya Brewery, sake, Sake Breweries, Shimada City, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-Wakatake Premiun Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Homarefuji (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

April 23, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The four sake!
All Junmai (that is no pure rice alcohol blended in!)!

We started with the sake made with Homarefuji rice milled down to 40%!

It is not actually on sale yet but will soon hit the market under the name of Wakatake Premium Junmai Daiginjo!
It is moreover a genshu (no pure water blended in)
Incidentally this is the only Junmai Daiginjo made with Homarefuji Rice in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40%
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.2
Amino acids: 1.0
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Single pasteurization
Bottled in March~April 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: slightly sweet and fruity. Banana, melon, pears, lychees.
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: melon, banana, honey.
Lingers for a short while before departing on notes of melon and soft lychees.
Varies little with food but for a drier note.

Overall: very elegant and intriguing sake!
The kind of sake you shouldn’t bother eating food with.
For special occasions only!
Suggested pairings: salads, asparaguses.

LA SOMMELIERE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japan, La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka City, Spanish Wines

Spanish Wine Tasting: Castillo de Enguerra Reserva 2010 Red Organic (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

March 17, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

I do love my sake and craft beer but I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to taste a good wine!
Moreover, the fact I’m for Bourgogne, France, does not limit or hamper whatsoever my scope. A good wine is a good wine! Full stop.
And once again I found myself tasting another an unusual nectar in the company of my good friend, Mrs. Hiromi Hasegawa in her castle, La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City!

Castillo de Enguera 2010 Red made by Bodegas Enguera in Valencia, Spain!

Bodegas Enguera was funded in 1999 with two fields in the Valencia area covering a total of 160 ha where grapes are organically grown at over 650 meter altitude:
Tembla Nino, 60%
Monastorere, 25%
Syrah, 15%
This particular wine is a blending of the above grapes matured for 12 months in New French casks (60%) and second-year American oak casks (40%).
Alcohol: 14 degrees

SUITABLE FOR VEGANS!

Clarity: Opaque and dense but very clean.
Color: Very dark red
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Red fruit, cassis, dry prunes, dry figs, spicy herbs.
Taste: Dry and fruity attack.
Complex: black fruit jam, confiture, black pepper.
Gives the impression of eating red grapes.
Complex to the point of insistingly inviting for another and another sip. Will intrigue you with new facets every time.
Stays long enough in palate for true tasting before departing on notes of spicy black pepper and dry coffee beans.

Overall: Eminently enjoyable red wine. Complex, spicy but gentle on the palate for lack of acidity in spite of basic dryness.
A well-balanced red wine very easy　to pair with dishes.
Suggested pairings: blueberry sauce venison, Korean BBQ/yakiniku, simmered pork/buta no kakuni, Chinese cuisine.

Retailed at 2,380 yen for takeout.
Sold at 900 yen per glass or 3,880 yen per bottle to be drunk on site.
Very good value!

LA SOMMELIERE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japan, Japan Gastronomy, La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, sake, Sake Breweries, Shizuoka City, Suruga Brewery

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Suruga Brewery-Tenko Junmai Dai Ginjo Muroka Genshu (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

March 16, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

This time we tasted a nectar brewed by an increasingly popular Suruga Brewery (Shizuoka City) which is already a lot of attention throughout Japan despite its very short history!

“Tenko/Heavens Rainbow” Junmai (no pure sake alcohol blended in) Daiginjo Muroka (unfiltered) Genshu (no pure water added)!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40%
Dryness: + 2
Acidity: 1.2
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Bottled in December 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: light gold
Aroma: dry and very fruity.
Pears, banana, custard, chestnuts, young coconuts, green melon
Body: fluid, almost sirupy
Taste: dry and fruity attack backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: custard, cream soda, banana, yogurt.
Always seems to reach the brink of sweetness without reaching it.
Lingers on for a short while before departing on a slightly drier note of custard, oranges and faint almonds.
Will become markedly drier with salty foods.

Overall: Very rich sake if there were such a term!
Both elegant and very satisfying.
Very fruity and sweetish at first but beautifully counterbalanced with swift, but in the right amount, acidity.
Could definitely be used as a superlative dessert wine!
Suggested pairings: Blue cheese!

LA SOMMELIERE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES