Okabe Cho | SHIZUOKA GOURMET

The other day I had the rare pleasure to visit again Hatsukame Brewery in Okabe Cho, Fujieda City in the company of a professional farmer consultant from the USA!
Hatsukame Brewery has a special place in my heart for many reasons: it is the oldest single family-owned Sake brewery In Shizuoka Prefecture for more than 380 years!
Interestingly enough it used to be located in the very center of Sumpu City (the old name of Shizuoka City) before moving to its present location during the Meiji Era!
I must admit a special treatment has always been offered to me and my visiting friends and I dare not reveal what presents and services I have been granted there!

This Daiginjo Genshu (no water blended in) called “Ai” (“Love”) was brewed before Hatsukame Brewery switched from Noto Master brewer to a young talented one from the Nanbu School in Iwate Prefecture!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 45%
Dryness: +3~+4
Acidity: 1.0 (low by Shizuoka standards)
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Bottled in March 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Strawberries
Body: fluid, almost sirupy
Tasting: dry, smooth, deep and very fruity attack.
Complex: strawberries, dark cherries.
Lingers for a while before departing on more fruity notes of strawberries.
Very pleasant alcohol all the way through, warming back of the palate.
Turns drier with food with liquorice and mandarines making a late appearance.

Overall: elegant and extravagant sake very much in the tradition of Hatsukame Brewery!
Very smooth in spite of its high alcohol contents.
Continuously entices to the next cup.
At its best on its own slightly chilled, although marries very gracefully with almost any cuisine.
Gentlemen will fight for it, but ladies need not worry about the high alcohol contents!
Makes for the perfect digestif in special company!
Recommended pairings: terrines, dry cured ham, cheese, smoked duck.

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