I didn't like the bitterness when I opened it, but after leaving it alone for about a month, it became much more balanced.
It's not as flashy as some of the more popular brands these days, but I can see why it's been popular for so many years.
It was very gassy and took quite a while to open.
The color is slightly pink.
Almost white sparkling and dry when opened.
As the gas is released, the wine becomes more relaxed and has a sake-like feel.
I drank it in a hurry, because if I did not take care of it, this year's portion would come out.
The gassiness was long gone, but the subtle gassiness, citrusy acidity, and sweetness were good.
I thought the balance of sweetness and acidity was very similar to that of Koeikiku, perhaps because they are from the same Saga region.
As the day goes by, the sourness is gone and the taste becomes more subdued.
When opened, it had a strong bitter taste when it kicked in, which I didn't like, but as the day went on, the bitterness lessened and it became easier to drink.
The aroma is quite fruity, but the sharpness is like a super dry taste.
I've never seen it so muddy.
The mouthfeel is thick but not cloying.
There wasn't much gas, so I diluted it with about 3 carbonated soda and it tasted like a calpis soda.
Compared to last year, it seemed less oily and less sweet.
That said, the acidity was noticeable and the muscateliness was strong.
But it's still good!