Hori
The first Murayu I ever drank was a Tokiwa label Kameguchidori.
I had never had it when I lived in Niigata, but of course I had heard of it. When I think of Murayuke, I have an image of this Tokiwa label with green letters on a black background.
It is a special bottle of Junmai Daiginjo-standard Tokiwa label called Kameguchidori, which means that the sake is bottled directly without stressing the unrefined sake.
The bottle is visually appealing with its freshness, with white lees drifting in the bottle.
When poured into a glass, it has a gentle aroma with a hint of sweetness. In the mouth, it has a slightly thickened texture with a mellow sweetness. After the elegant sweetness like Wasanbon and the unassertive natural acidity spread out, as its reputation suggests, it also has a crisp and spicy taste that is typical of Niigata sake. It is sweet but not heavy, and although it is not fizzy, the aftertaste is light and does not interfere with meals. I felt it was a sake with a sense of balance that could pass through the eye of a needle.
I wonder if I would have been able to make this evaluation if I had had this sake when I was living in Niigata (about 15 years ago), when I thought that light and dry sake was supreme.
It is not easy to find this sake, but as someone who was born in Niigata (and learned to appreciate the taste of sake in Niigata), I would like to get a bottle of it as soon as I find another color label.
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