Purchased at Costco last week. It is made from 100% organic Yamada Nishiki rice grown in Shiga Prefecture. The sake rice is produced using organic farming methods in Japan, and the Yamadanishiki, the Yokozuna of sake, is purposely cut down to make Junmai Ginjo. The fact that the price is kept low is probably due to Tamanomitsu's corporate scale and its policy of keeping the organic market in mind. I was frankly surprised at how good the sake was. In the mouth, it tastes of melon and tropical fruits. It's not a scent, but rather... strange. The sweetness stands out, but the mouthfeel is very gentle. In the second half, it disappears quickly. I don't feel the impact that only organic can have. There are two waves of sweetness coming at you. If this is a unique organic flavor, I have high expectations that this may be a new area of flavor design.
At the Sakabayashi restaurant in Kobe Shushinkan, I drank "Kanna," a sake that Fukuju is co-creating for ethical consumption. Although it is a Fukuju brand, the sake feels a little stiff in the mouth. It is interesting to note that the fruity taste with a hint of the core of the rice comes from Yamada Nishiki, which is made with recycled phosphorus fertilizer. I failed to pick up the bottle, so the photo is of the "Sakabayashi" dish.
Nabeshima Junmai Ginjo Yamadanishiki Aromas of banana and melon.
Slightly stimulating on the tongue. The slight foaming is pleasant. There is no alcohol stimulation. There is no alcohol smell at all. A soft sweetness spreads richly throughout the mouth. The more I searched for flavors, the more I was amazed at the complexity of the flavors blended together. I remember when I visited Kashima, I quickly went to a nearby liquor store to buy it because it was not sold at the brewery.
Masumi Honjozo, lukewarm. The aroma is almost alcoholic or faintly so. When you swallow it, a little fruity taste hits your upper jaw. The tongue is not numbed by the alcohol at all. You can drink it smoothly. I can understand the Junmai principle, but Honjozo is also very good.
The first bottle of this year is "Saku" Gen no Tomo
Aroma: Modestly fruity. Banana type aroma.
Taste: The sweetness of the rice spreads moistly on the tongue. The overall taste is gentle.
Taste: Fresh aroma and crisp acidity. It is a Junmai-shu with a rich rice flavor.