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| Beau |  |
Joined: 4/9/2009
Posts: 163 |
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Last night was outright weird......
I was sick.......... as in not feeling well...... but decided to do a 4 nama tasting...... the spring releases which are coming in.......
1) Shutendouji Oh-Oni
2) Kamikokoro Toukagen
3) Harushika Shiboribana
4) Ichinokura Nama Genshu Nigori
............. and then I went to bed at 7:28PM
Tonight.....
I'm doing a compare and contrast tasting between two "affordable" taru sakes:
1) Ozeki Taru
2) Hakushika Junmai Taru
Both 300ml bottles and cheap!
They both taste that way sadly......
The Ozeki tastes really "cedar flavoring added".......... thin/watery and pretty sweet.... there is a minty quality to this brew.... perhaps a sense of cinnamon and sugar cane..... the cedar tones come across as more like a spiced apple or holiday treat......
The Kuromatsu Hakushika taru has more body and is a little more dry..... a pretty serviceable taru that is smooth and clean with a very gentle cedar hue.... the strength is in the smoothness..... sort of like Taru-light........
I'm a little disappointed with both brews...... and I think cedar sake would speak to red wine drinkers.... so I am always on the lookout for good efforts.....
(I'll go and warm these guys up .... see if they drink better warm and hot...)
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| Mike |  |
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Joined: 11/15/2009
Posts: 82
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Well last night was the "christening" of the new apartment. My friend and I sat down to drink the Kikusui as a start, which she swears it was all about yams.
Then we indulged intot he 4 diamond Genshu. OMG was that brew special, though I was having too much fun drinking with a friend to take notes, I have to recommend this one. It is bold and in your face but has all the subtilties that a junmai gingo should have. I will have to revisit this brew again and do a proper tasting.........
My personal motto:
I am the bamboo......... no matter how the wind blows......... I refuse to breake | |
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| Beau | |
Joined: 4/9/2009
Posts: 163 |
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It is large ...... it's a genshu!
I will send Jason my new Blog on genshu sake in about 20 minutes....
Very timely post...... thank you for the assist!
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| Christopher | |
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Joined: 10/14/2009
Posts: 93 |
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Tonight it's Wakatake Onikoroshi "Demon Slayer"
I've given into the hype and purchased this "popular" brew. Right off the bat, I get a round aroma of ripened fruit, specifically melon, and hint of tangerine. The brew is very well balanced and the taste consists of more ripened melon. But it's the finish that makes this brew stand out, it's so incredibly smooth. I believe Beau used the word "silky" and I'd agree with that 100%
My Sake Log.
http://www.evernote.com/pub/soloracer24/nihon-shu.sake.log | |
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| The Absinthe Review Network | |
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Joined: 7/19/2009
Posts: 131 |
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I'm with you on the Ozeki Beau, I tried the Dry and one other and was not impressed with either of them. While waiting for the tasting brews to be finalizd I headed to my usual specialty store to check their sake selection for something in the meantime, but the selection had nothing I haven't tried, and my favourites were out, or else I'd have picked up some Wandering Poet JG.:(
The Absinthe Review Network: 15 minutes of reading could save you $50 or more on shit absinthe. | |
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| Mike | |
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Joined: 11/15/2009
Posts: 82
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Ok I will start by saying I am sorry since it has been a while since I posted up a brew.... ;P
I have been taking it a little easy on the drinking aspect. BUT, last night at work I had an experience that I can not let pass me by.........
I was able to enjoy some of the 1988 Haut Baran........
This was some seriously good juice and I was able to taste it right off the bottle and after it had fully opened. Full of ripe red cherry and soft luscious tannins with an under tone of wood that resembled the aroma of a good aged whiskey barrel. the finish was long and silky leaving you with a hint of the fruit and mouth watering acid. The acid was so complex that it took me until today to get it straight. The remaining smokiness of the finish sat in the back of my throat so every exhale was that of cherry and wood.
The high tones were full with red cherry fruit, chocolate, and raspberry, the mid tones gave off just a hint of the earthiness that was evident int he low tones, but the fruit darkened as I went deeper into the nose. Then the low tones gave me every thing I want in a well aged Bordeaux. A bit of barnyard, soft supple tanic acid, subtle smokey wood, dark fruit like black cherry and that intangible aroma that only the great Bordeaux can bring out.
all I can say is that it was an experience that I will soon not forget and lust after for a long time.
My personal motto:
I am the bamboo......... no matter how the wind blows......... I refuse to breake | |
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| Beau | |
Joined: 4/9/2009
Posts: 163 |
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Since it was a spectacular wine..... I'll let you slide speaking about grape juice in this house of rice worship.... | |
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| Christopher |
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Joined: 10/14/2009
Posts: 93 |
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Not too sure about that grape juice, but I have respect for all alcohol, creativity is key.
Tonight I'm having Kanbara "Bride of the fox" from Kaetsu Shozu.
Very fragrant aroma, hints of mint, pistachios, and fruits. Taste is semi-sweet and flavourful with almost no alcohol taste present. A great junmai ginjo in my opinion.
My Sake Log.
http://www.evernote.com/pub/soloracer24/nihon-shu.sake.log | |
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| Mike | |
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Joined: 11/15/2009
Posts: 82
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Last night I was introduced to the Dewazakura Dewasansan "Green Ridge".
After starting with a Kura no Hana and a great pork chop dinner my friend and I cracked this Junmai. It was complementary to the Kura no Hana in that it was very nicely fruity on the nose with hints of buttered caramel. The fruit came though on the taste followed by a soft luscious mouth feel. So well balanced and easy drinking.
I did not do detailed notes for this brew, just some basic impressions. I drank it to relax and enjoy, and it did the trick.
My personal motto:
I am the bamboo......... no matter how the wind blows......... I refuse to breake | |
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| Christopher | |
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Joined: 10/14/2009
Posts: 93 |
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Last night I had sashimi with a friend, we decided to have a tasting whilst there, I give to you, the following 6 course sake tasting event:
Otokoyama - Tokubetsu Junmai?
Kubota Hekiju - Yamahai Junmai Daiginjo?
Kubota Senju- Tokubetsu Honjozo?
Kubota Manju- Junmai Daiginjo?
Hakkaisan - Honjozo?
and finished with a Hakutsuru Sayuri - Junmai Nigori?
and for the sushi/sashimi lovers, we indulged in the following:
Miso soup with tofu
Seaweed salad
Gyoza
Alaska Roll
Spicy Tataki Roll
Crispy rice with Spicy Tuna x2
Soft Shell Crab Tempura Roll
Baked lobster Roll
Toro
Tako
Uni
Massago
and then some Matcha tea, prepared by the owner/manager, who also gave us the Hekiju and the Sayuri for free and sat down to talk Sake with us for about 30 mins, Great guy.
I apologise for a lack of a review but after the Manju I don't recall too much except for the bill.. I do remember saying to myself that the Manju was one of my favourite Daiginjos ever. The girl i was with said it smelled like cotton candy and bubblegum and that when she dies she wants to be embalmed with it...
My Sake Log.
http://www.evernote.com/pub/soloracer24/nihon-shu.sake.log | |
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| Mike | |
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Joined: 11/15/2009
Posts: 82
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Friends, it has been a while sine I posted and honestly it is with good reason…….. Though I have enjoyed a few brews I did not have the heart to sit and review, I was more enjoying to celebrate the life of and say good bye my Mom.
Tonight I am thinking of her as I write this tasting.
I also have to thank Jason and Beau for being the incredible people they are and making tonight’s tasting possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Tonight I am completely enjoying Miwatari “God of Suwa” Junmai Daiginjyo (that is how it is spelled on the bottle)
On the nose – The high tones are of strawberries and blue berries and some light melon. The mid tones carry the berry and melon scents but adds the aroma of fresh crisp snow to it. The low tones show a light maltyness and more berries.
The taste – A full creamy mouth feel greets you but not like a Kimoto or Yamahi style, there is a little umami that holds as a texture and not a flavor. Soft berries and melons are very present and very soft but juicy acid are there to dance as well. The finish is like eating a ripe cantaloupe with no perceived alcohol at all. This brew is soft, rounded, delicate, balanced, and speaks of spring time in two ways; the last frost and the first fruit.
My personal motto:
I am the bamboo......... no matter how the wind blows......... I refuse to breake | |
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| Beau | |
Joined: 4/9/2009
Posts: 163 |
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Great brew.....
Have really come to enjoy Miwatari .... both brews... so solid... | |
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| Beau | |
Joined: 4/9/2009
Posts: 163 |
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Kasumi Tsuru Yamahai Ginjo........
Straight from the fridge......
A very solid brew...... love the nose.... and the first sip is both balanced and a sneak peek at the "Yamahai" "effect"........ a little smokey, a little musky but veined in the confines of rich and smooth ginjo...... it drinks "fancy" and "table sake'ish" in the same breath.... that's why I like it...... take note of the noughet ... that burnt sugar glimmer that is not a fruity ginjo..... thick-fat-confident .... a brew that looks for natural sweetness in cuisines...... one of my favorite crab and lobster sakes.......
Okay..... enough...... get your own!!!
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| Christopher | |
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Joined: 10/14/2009
Posts: 93 |
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Tonight I'm having some of Kaetsu's Kanbara "Bride of the Fox". Good aroma of salted pistachios and tastes melon, the finish is refreshingly crisp with a delicious sweet aftertaste. I'll be having another glass as I pour over my 2 newest books: Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, and Banksy: Wall and Piece. Both excellent art books.
My Sake Log.
http://www.evernote.com/pub/soloracer24/nihon-shu.sake.log | |
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| improvius |  |
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Joined: 11/3/2009
Posts: 32
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Tonight we went out for dinner at a new Japanese
restaurant in town: the Sunrise Steakhouse (part of the "Sakura
Network" - http://sakurahomerestaurant.com/splash/). They had a
surprising variety of sakes available. One of them was the Chiyomusubi Oyaji Gokuraku "Cup" Sake . Never having tried a "one cup" sake before, we decided to give it
a shot. Basically, it was remarkably good for something that seemed
like a marketing novelty/convenience gimmick. It was smooth and mild,
with a very soft finish. I picked up a buttery cantaloupe flavor. The
wife was getting more of a honeydew melon.
We enjoyed most of the
"cup" prior to getting into the meal itself. Unfortunately, the mild
flavor did not hold up well once the food came out. This sake is
excellent on its own, but it is delicate enough to be easily overpowered
by anything rich or savory. We had gyoza and vegetable tempura to
start, both of which were too much for a good pairing with the Oyaji.
Then we moved on to a couple of specialty rolls and a very flavorful
nabeyaki soba soup, which again overwhelmed the Oyaji.
So if
you're looking for a good "sipping" sake or apertif, the Oyaji One Cup
is a great choice. But if you're looking for a food pairing, you may
want something with a little more boldness. Our food was definitely on
the rich side, though, so it may pair well with more delicate dishes.
The other sake we tried tonight was the Aiyu Tomoju Junmai Gin.
We initially tried it before getting any of the food. It had a stronger flavor than the Oyaji, and frankly didn't seem as pleasant. It was hard to pick out any flavors while simply drinking it side by side with the Oyaji. It seemed more bitter than anything else.
When the food came out, however, it was a completely different story. While the Oyaji was overwhelmed, the Tomoju sprang to life. It was especially good with the rich, savory Nabeyaki soup. This pairing brought out a tart cherry flavor in the Tomoju that complimented the dish very well.
The bottom line is that the Tomoju should stand up very well to a wide variety of dishes. I think it will go especially well with the kind of rich flavors you'll typically find while eating out. And it would be a perfect companion to a bowl of ramen at home. | |
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| improvius | |
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Joined: 11/3/2009
Posts: 32
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I still have no idea why the posts come out in different colors like that. I am just copying I wrote earlier and pasting it into the comments here.
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| Beau | |
Joined: 4/9/2009
Posts: 163 |
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The Absinthe Review Network wrote:
Mike, no need to repent for a passionate description. I really thought you illustrated the flavour well, you have totally sold me on this brew! How much do you have left? I tried my first Dai Ginjo last night!! It took a few minutes to open up so the awe did not strike me immediately, but I loved it! I took a ton of tasting notes I'd like to post, but they were on my iPod, which I need to charge.:) Drank over half the bottle...Time for another! What was the Daiginjo?
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