Tag Archives: sake

Fujinomiya City, sake, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fujinishiki Brewery-Fujinishiki Junmai Genshu Nama “Juku” (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

October 9, 2015 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!

This time I tasted another brew by Fujinishiki Brewery in Fujinomiya City!
It is a Junmai Genshu Nama called “Juku/塾/Matured”!

Rice: Nihonbare (Shiga Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 18~19 degrees
Dryness: + 6
Acidity: 1.8
Bottled in October 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: golden hue, very similar to a white wine
Aroma: assertive, dry and fruity.
Muscat, raisins, custard, musk melon, hints of peach, ripe figs and chestnuts
Body: slightly sirupy
Taste: dry and mellow attack at first backed only with a little junmai petillant with some welcome acidity.
Complex: custard, peach, figs, chestnuts.
Lingers for while warming up the back of the palate before departing on a strong dark chocolate appearance.
Very easy to drink in spite of its high alcohol contents.

Overall: a very intriguing sake you can enjoy as a high class mellow white wine!
Will splendidly marry with practically any food.
Stays complex all the way through and showing ever-changing facets probably due to the unusual rice and the high alcohol contents.
Very unusual for a Shizuoka Prefecture sake.
A must-try not only as a sake but as a high class beverage for a whole meal.
You will overwhelm your guests!

Recommended pairings: ebi shumai, oden, cheese, chawanmushi, yakitori, terrines and pate.

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!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery: Oniotome, “Sachi” Hiyaoroshi Tokubetsu Junmai

September 22, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Oomuraya Brewery started this series called “Oniotome”, that is “the Goblin’s Wife” a few years ago to keep company with their famous brand, “Oni Goroshi/To KIll a Goblin”, and it has ever been so successful!
It is put out four times a year and we can at last savor the Hiyaoroshi/pasteurized only once Autumn version called “Sachi/Happiness”!

The Oniotome is still sporting her horns on the label which is fast becoming a collector’s item!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in September 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive, dry and fruity.
Banana, dark chocolate, custard.
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed with strong junmai petillant.
Complex: bitter dark chocolate, bananas, faint coffee beans.
Lingers for a little while warming up the back of the palate before departing on an even drier note with strong hints of dark chocolate.
Turns somewhat mellower with food accompanied by the appearance of oranges before veering back onto a drier note.
Easy to drink in spite of its marked dryness and thanks to its fruitiness.

Overall: A remarkable sake as ever in the series started over 2 years ago because of its very dry fruitiness making it enjoyable on its own at all temperatures but also with food!
A sure value we can look forward to every year! No wonder the name of this seasonal brew is “Happiness”!
Suggested pairings: potato salad, cheese, chocolate desserts.

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Fujinomiya City, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fujinishiki Brewery-Fujinishiki Hiyaoroshi Junmai Genshu (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

September 18, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

This time I tasted a brew by Fujinishiki Brewery in Fujinomiya City!

This is a Hiyaoroshi, that is a sake pasteurized only once before bottling only.
It is not only a junmai but also a genshu, that is no pure water was added!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku (Fukui Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 65%
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.6
Bottled in September 2015

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Clarity: very clear
Color: white wine-like golden hue
Aroma: dry and very fruity
Complex: pineapple, banana, apples, mango, apricot
Body: fluid
Taste: softer than expected dry and fruity attack back up by puissant junmai petillant
Complex: almonds, biscuits, custard
Easy to drink in spite of its high alcohol content thanks to the Shizuoka yeast.
Lingers on for a while warming up the back of the palate.
Varies little with food but for a drier finish.
Insistently asks for the next sip and cup, a true sign pf a good sake.

Overall: Intriguing, complex and very pleasant sake!
The type of sake you can enjoy during a whole meal from starters to desserts as an almighty white wine!
Suggested pairings, especially when slightly chilled: soft-style creamy cheese and nuts, cashew nuts, Japanese pickles.

LA SOMMELIERE

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 12): Makino Brewery-Shimizu Minato Jirocyo Honjozo

September 16, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

A very interesting and reasonable way to taste sake is to acquire one-cup sake!
They also make for cute collection of glasses or cups!

Now, this is the fourth tasting of the second batch of Shizuoka Prefecture One Cup Sake I obtained at Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City!

A one cup sake by Makino Brewery in Fujinomiya City!

Shimizu Minato Jirocyo!
That is, Shimizu ( a city of its own before it was merged into Shizuoka City) Minato (harbor) Jirocyo (pronouce “Jirochoo”, the name of the local hero!)!

Although Makino Brewery is located at the foot of Mount Fuji in Fujinomiya City, it has produced this special brew for quite some time.
Actually it is the only brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture allowed to call one of its brands, “Fujisan/Mount Fuji”!

Rice milled down to 70%
Alcohol: 15%
Bottled in April 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: assertive. Very dry and fruity. Almonds, roasted nuts
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack
Dry banana, acid custard, dry oranges, roasted nuts, biscuits.
lingers for a short while warming up the back of the palate before departing with notes of oranges.
Varies little with food but for an even drier finish.
Late but strong appearance of coffee beans and then dark chocolate.

Overall: a solid and uncomplicated sake fit for an izakaya!
The dry sake lovers will appreciate it!
Bring it to a BBQ!
Suggested pairings: yakitori, curry dishes, pork and sausages.

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 11): Fuji-Takasago Brewery-Takasago Honjozo

September 15, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

A very interesting and reasonable way to taste sake is to acquire one-cup sake!
They also make for cute collection of glasses or cups!

Now, this is the third tasting of the second batch of Shizuoka Prefecture One Cup Sake I obtained at Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City!

Takasago Honjozo by Fuji-Takasago Brewery in Fujinmiya City!

Alcohol: 14~15 degrees
Bottled in June 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. banana, roasted nuts
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack.
Complex: roasted nuts, banana, custard.
Lingers for a while before departing on a drier note with strong hints of coffee beans and dark chocolate.
Changes little with food but for a softer if still very dry note.
Late appearance of oranges.

Overall: Straightforward, uncomplicated but very enjoyable sake.
Tends to show more complexity with time and rise in temperature.
Marries beautifully with food although eminently enjoyable on its own.
A sure value.
Suggested pairings: cheese, nuts, Japanese pickles, ham.

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 10): Hana no Mai Brewery-Honjozo

September 11, 2015 dragonlife 2 Comments

A very interesting and reasonable way to taste sake is to acquire one-cup sake!
They also make for cute collection of glasses or cups!

Now, this is the second tasting of the second batch of Shizuoka Prefecture One Cup Sake I obtained at Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City!

A very flowery label by Hana No Mai/the Flower Dance Brewery in Hamamatsu City!

Combined with Mount Fuji to signify this is a sake from Shizuoka Prefecture!

Rice: Brewery-grown Yamada Nishiki
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled on March 18th, 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: Strong, dry and fruity. Dark chocolate, custard.
Body: fluid
Tasting: Dry and fruity attack
Complex: coffee beans, dark chocolate, nuts, custard.
Lingers for a while before departing on a softer note with late appearance of dry chestnuts.
Varies little with food, tends to blend with it.
Will turn again drier away from food with strong coffee beans.

Overall: far better than expected for a simple honjozo!
Although tasted chilled, would do well at any temperature.
The kind of sake that would please any one any time especially around a BBQ or a hot pot.
Suggested pairings: stew, yakitori, spicy food, cheese.
A sake for all seasons!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Eikun Brewery-Junmai “Yui Sararikarakuchi

September 8, 2015 dragonlife 2 Comments

I tasted this particular from one of my favorite breweries, Eikun Brewery (Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, Yui) at a more or less secret lair of mine in Shizuoka City where I can indulge in my hobby away from the crowds!

Eikun Brewery labels all look the same but this one includes a small important detail!

Can you see the small shrimp?
It is a sakura ebi, the emblem of Yui, famous all over the country!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in June 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Pineapple, faint bananas
Body, fluid, almost sirupy
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up with strong junmai petillant.
Complex. Custard, walnuts, pineapple, oranges.
Lingers for a while warming up the back of the palate before departing with dry oranges.
Varies little with food but for a drier note and appearance of dark chocolate.
Coffee beans make a strong appearance once away from food again.

Overall: very elegant and refreshing but intriguing for a sake of such comparatively humble status.
For all seasons on its own or with food at any temperature!
Suggested pairings: Any vegetable dish in particular!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 9): Doi Brewery-Iwaizake Kaiun Tokubetsu Junmai

August 31, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

A very interesting and reasonable way to taste sake is to acquire one-cup sake!
They also make for cute collection of glasses or cups!

Now, this is the second batch of Shizuoka Prefecture One Cup Sake I obtained at Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City!

“Kaiun” by Doi Brewery in Kakegawa City!

As far as I know I think this is the only one they put out, but that might change quickly as this form of sake is becoming increasingly popular!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in July 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. melon, rice, pears, greens
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up with moderate junmai petillant.
Complex. Pears, dark chocolate, walnuts, custard.
Lingers for a while warming the palate before departing on an even drier note with hints of dark chocolate, coffee beans and custard.
Late appearance of oranges.
Varies little with food but for a drier note.
Coffee beans make a strong comeback again away from food.

Overall: a deep, heady and complex, and very fruity sake, but with a pronounced dryness.
Eminently enjoyable on its own, it does marry beautifully with any food, though.
Suggested pairings: cheese, biscuits, desserts.
A sure value, an extravagant sake for a one-cup!

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One Cup sake, Saga Prefecture, sake, Sake Brewery

Saga Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 1) Koimawari Brewery-NOMANNE THE SAGA Junmai

July 17, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day once again thanks to her husband, my good friend Atsuko Kurata offered me this one cup sake from saga Prefecture!
This particular sake brewed by Koimawari Brewery a junmai!

Koimawari is a world famous pottery created in saga Prefecture, Kyushu Island!
Incredibly enough the brewery of the same name produces a special series of 5 one cup sake served in authentic koimawari pottery, all in different design!
A real collector’s item!

“Nomanne” stands for “let’s enjoy a drink” in local dialect!
“The Saga” is an interesting pun referring to the name of the Prefecture!

Rice : Saga no Hana
Rice milled down to 65%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bottled in June 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue, a little smoky due to the presence of white lees
Aroma: dry and fruity. Chocolate,
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and very fruity attack backed up a little junmai petillant.
Complex. Apples, pears, citruses with late hints of nuts and chestnuts.
Varies little with but for a drier turn.
Lingers for a little while before departing with more notes of dry citruses and dark chocolate.

Overall: a charming and elegant sake.
Should please of lovers of dry and fruity sake!
Quite complex at room temperature.
Would do well with cheese in particular!
Not only a great pottery design but also a lovely sake!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Masu Ichi Brewery-Dai Ginjo (November 1988!)

July 6, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

My constant research on Shizuoka Prefecture sake and sake breweries led me some years ago to meet Mr. Toshihiro Matsunaga/松永俊宏さん, owner of Matsunaga Liquor Shop in Shizuoka City, who has been collecting and safely storing at low temperatures sake from all over Shizuoka Prefecture and some outside for no less than 30 years!
I paid him a long overdue visit the other day to talk about his treasures and purchase one of them for tasting!

Dai Ginjo by Masu Ichi Brewery (Shizuoka City) bottled in November 1988!
Founded in 1882, Masu Ichi Brewery last produced sake until 2011 under master brewer Denjirou Masui/増井伝次郎杜氏 who left this world at the young age of 49. The brewery has been dormant since then but will hopefully be reborn with the coming of age of his son who has vowed to continue in the steps of his celebrated father!
There are still some last bottles but they certainly are to find and any who does proudly announces it!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in November 1988

Clarity: still very clear!
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. melon, banana, chocolate
Body: fluid, a little sirupy
Taste: very fruity and dry attack with only a little petillant on the late.
Complex: melon, banana.
Lingers for a little while before departing on notes of dark chocolate and chestnuts.
very pleasurable and easy to drink.

Overall: A remarkably well preserved true beauty for such an sake!
Not only drinking but savoring history!
Very soft on the palate with only a little petillant springing up at the end.
No need to accompany it with food! It is simply too precious!
To be valued and enjoyed like a very fine old vintage top-class wine!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery Garyubai Junmai Ginjo

June 26, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

The interesting things with Sanwa Brewery in Shizuoka City is that they can come up with two different sake with exactly the same specs but a totally different taste as shown with this Garyubai Junmai Ginjo and the precedent limited edition, Garyubai Junmai Ginjo “Ryoufuu Natsuzake”!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku (Toyama Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 5
Acidity: 1.3
Bottled in May 2015
Clarity: very ;ear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Strong bananas.
Body: fluid, a little sirupy
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed with pleasant junmai petillant.
Complex: bananas, custard, hints of nuts and greens.
Lingers for a while before disappearing with drier bananas, custard and faint notes of dark chocolate.
Varies little with food but for a drier note and more noticeable greens.
Late appearance of coffee beans.

Overall: very straightforward dry and pleasant sake obviously conceived to be enjoyed with food.
Eminently enjoyable on its own slightly chilled.
Should be drunk at room temperature with food, though. Will the show more facets!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Junmai Ginjo “Ryoufuu Natsuzake” (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

June 14, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

This time I tasted another brew by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, whose particular label is known even in the States!

It does make for an another long name!
Garyubai Junmai Ginjo “Ryoufuu Natsuzake”!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku (Toyama Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: +5
Acidity: 1.3
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in May 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity.green melon, asparagus, dry vanilla, custard, string beans
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and flowery attack backed up by discreet junmai petillant.
Complex. Greens, asparaguses, dry watermelon.
lingers only for a little while on palate before departing on a dry note with late appearance of walnuts and faint coffee beans.
Dark chocolate appears with rise of temperature.

Overall: very elegant, dry and complex sake for such a simple gohyakumangoku rice.
Drink it first chilled before experiencing new facets as the temperature rises inside the glass.
Roll it around the glass to make it breathe.
Perfect for summer evening meals.
Marries beautifully with any cuisines as long as they include greens and fish.
Recommended pairings: katsuo tataki, cold pork shabu shabu, yuudofu, asparaguses in hollandaise sauce.

LA SOMMELIERE

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 8) Hana No Mai Brewery-Ieyasu Kun Honjozo

May 30, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

A very interesting and reasonable way to taste sake is to acquire one-cup sake!
They also make for cute collection of glasses or cups!

Continuing the long series of one cup sake in Shizuoka Prefecture I found this one by Hana no Mai Brewery (Hamamatsu City) in Cenova Department Store in Shizuoka City!

It is called Ieyasu Kun after Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu who has recently been adopted as a mascot of Hamamatsu City, bearing the design of a piano as Hamamatsu City is the biggest piano-producing city in Japan!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled on May 7th, 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Aroma: dry. Dry dark chocolate, biscuits
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry attack.
Roasted biscuits, brown sugar
Lingers on only for a while before departing on an even drier but slightly more complex note with appearance of dry milk tea.
Varies little with food.
Dryness constant all the way through.
Coffee beans and biscuits tend to make a strong comeback with every sip.

Overall: Straightforward, uncomplicated dry sake.
Tends to accommodate any food.
Would do well chilled at a BBQ!

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Enoshima, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 7) Shidaizumi Brewery Nyan Cup Enoshima Ginjo

May 24, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

A very interesting and reasonable way to taste sake is to acquire one-cup sake!
They also make for cute collection of glasses or cups!

The other day once again thanks to her husband, my good friend Atsuko Kurata offered me this one cup sake by Shidaizumi Brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture but solely sold in Enoshima, Kanagawa Prefecture! as part of a batch of no less than 8 cups from 6 different Prefectures!
It is another version of the famous “Nyan Cup” registered design by Shidaizumi Brewery in Fujieda City!

Enoshima is not only famous for its beaches and surfing but also for recreational fishing!

A lot of visitors combine both!

Rice milled down to 50%
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Bottled in January 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: assertive, dry and fruity. Custard, bananas, melon
Body: fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Very fruity, dry and well-rounded attack backed up with very pleasant alcohol.
Complex. Dry custard,oranges, green coffee beans, dark chocolate.
Lingers for a short while before departing on a markedly drier note with oranges, green coffee beans and herbs.
Varies little with food but for a marked appearance of melon.

Overall: Superb sake, A bit of a waste to sell it in one cups style but will serve as great introduction to the beautiful sake brewed by a Noto Master Brewer at Shidaizumi Brewery!
Elegant in spite of its marked dryness. very complex and keeping you alert for the next facet.
Eminently enjoyable on its own, but would splendidly marry with any salad, vegetable cuisine and cheese.
Do try with dessert.
At its best first slightly chilled and slowly drunk as its temperature rises!
Difficult to equal as a one cup sake!

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Gifu Prefecture, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Gifu Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 1) Miyozakura Brewery-Junmai

May 22, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day once again thanks to her husband, my good friend Atsuko Kurata offered me this one cup sake from Gifu Prefecture as part of a batch of no less than 8 cups from 6 different Prefectures!
This particular sake brewed by Miyozakura Brewery is a junmai!

Now, why a panda? LOL

Rice milled down to 70%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bottled in March 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Aroma: discreet. Coffee beans, rice
Body: fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed with strong junmai petillant.
More complex than expected. Apricots, macadamia nuts, very dry almonds.
Lingers for a while on palate before departing on an even drier note with hints of coffee beans and roasted nuts.
Turns milder but still very dry with food. Tends to disappear more quickly then.

Overall: A better than average one cup sake for dry sake lovers.
Should marry well with any food!
Lovely design!

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