Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Glass at Jam. 2012 version. Big, dry, fruity nose, citrus, something like a Sav. Blanc. Clear, water-like. Light and refreshing body. Very subtle, elegant flavors that are complex and tasty but not at all in your face. Dry, dusty, understated. Much like a white wine. Fabulous.
Kyotolefty (15912) reviewed Houou Biden Umeshu from Kobayashi Shuzo 12 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Taster at Jam. Orange-amber, huge ume nose. No real sake flavor, but great plum character. Smooth and full. Love, tart-sweet balance. Tastes more like a plum wine made with spirits, so the lack of sake character is a bit disappointing, but it is still delicious.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
From a bottle, obviously, and into a glass, shockingly. Clear colour like it should have. Nice fruity aroma. Huge flavour of fruit, rice. Simply wonderful. Best sake of the eleven had that evening.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
1.8 liter bottle from Yamamoto. Oily and icy with the slightest of yellow tints. Spicy, rice and koji yamahai nose, sawdust, pepper, herbs and fruits. Decidedly complex. Wild and complex flavors, spices, fruits, spearmint, just a touch of yamahai funk. Really wonderful. Rich rice, and so much else. Clean and full. These guys are magical.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5
Glass, slightly chilled, at Wachi. Huge, lovely, oily aroma with rice and tons of fruit, peaches, melons. Spicy, fruity flavor, rich rice but huge amounts of estery fruits. Big, full, smooth mouth. Lovely. Huge flavors. Truly wonderful. Blew away the 15 or more other sake we tried that evening.