I buy a bottle of Usu-nigori every year. But sadly, I don't have enough memory to compare the taste. This year, however, it had a good balance of umami and sweetness, and was easy to drink with a clean aftertaste. This happens every year.
You can feel the sweetness of rice in the first sip, and it goes down your throat nicely. It flows smoothly. It heralds a sweet time. You can really have a luxurious time with this sake.