Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Bottle from Japan Centre, London, by mail order. Pours clear and, well sake-esque. Aromas are light tropical fruit and pale dry sherry. taste brings the thing that tells you it’s rice wine. Not really my thing, but enjoyable enough.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
Bottle at home ... from my London Haul ... clear ... barest hint of yellow ... sweet mellow floral fruity rice nose ... sweet floral juicy rice ... little alcohol ... nice ... very open ... ok warmed up ... still clear :-) ... nice sweet floral nose ... even more open ... fruity ... jasmine ... more alcohol in linger
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Bottle (assume fresh) consumed at Fugakyu, Boston on 9/30/06.
Clear, but somewhat viscous appearance supports light legs that are not terribly large or sticky.
Graceful, yet strong aroma is full of light, pear-like fruits, hints of tangerine and mango skin and very delicate phenols that contribute a spiciness on the end. Smooth and refined, it shows none of the alcohol. Strong pear and rice notes combine and strengthen as it warms. Hints of unripened plumskin and perhaps some vanilla are notable as well.
Much stronger in flavor, though no less elegant, it boasts a warm, round, nuttiness, that also has hints of fruity sweetness and a white grapeskin tartness on the end, that combines light alcohol warmth with spicy phenols to balance the beginning. Thicker texture than expected, as well, with a palate-coating viscousness (which I’m overexaggerating, it’s not as if it’s truly thick or syrupy in the least) that really drives home the rice richness up front and allows complexity to emerge as the palate dries through the middle and end. Very interesting and drinkable, quite hearty for a sake. Rice sharpness and some acidity do build up over time, with increasing nuttiness and alcohol warmth.