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| Sake: The Japanese Experience |
Thursday July 24, 2003
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Speaker: Leonard Phillips, Manager, Ambassador Wine and Spirits
Sake (rice wine) is one of the fastest growing segments in the wine market. This growth spurt has been fueled in part by the increase in popularity of Asian, and particularly Japanese, cuisine. NY's better wine shops now carry a plethora of small production Sakes that vary in style and taste. This tasting presented 11 Sakes in varying styles from Japan's best Sake producers. The wines sampled are imported by Vine Connections, a top quality San Francisco based importer with extensive contacts in Japan.
Wokka Sake Vodka not available as of now in the US. Vote taken as to like or dislike; Overwhelmingly voted liked it.
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| Flight I: Sake |
Votes |
Full Retail $ |
Tentaka Kuni - Hawk in the Heavens
Quality Grade: Junmai (at least 30% of rice grain polished away)
Alcohol: 15.6%
Acidity: 2.1
A mature well-rounded flavor with a settled fragrance. Dry but with an underlying richness. Drier and lighter when chilled, and a bit fuller as it warms. |
4 |
$27.00 |
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Ama no To - Heaven's Door
Quality Grade: Tokubetsu Junmai (at least 30% of rice grain polished away, "Tokubetsu" = "Special")
Alcohol: 16.2%
Acidity: 1.5
Faint aromas of raisins and earthiness. Overall slightly dry flavor but with nice fruity essences in the recesses, supplanted by nice rice-like tones and a gentle sweetness beneath. |
2 |
$29.00 |
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Fukucho - Moon on the Water
Quality Grade: Junmai Ginjo (at least 40% of rice grain polished away)
Alcohol: 16.5%
Acidity: 1.4
A rather fragrant Junmai Ginjo, bottled immediately without charcoal filtering. The fine-lined flavor is as bold as the fragrance, with a soft-edged fullness overall. The fruit pops out at you. Pineapple nose. Mid palate bananas, peppers. |
4 |
$37.00 |
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Nanbu Bijin- Southern Beauty
Quality Grade: Junmai Ginjo (at least 40% of rice grain polished away)
Alcohol: 16%
Acidity: 1.5
This has an elegant and soft fragrance and a flavor that is reminiscent of pears and muscat grapes. Delicious. |
7 |
$33.00 |
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Mantensei - Star-Filled Sky
Quality Grade: Junmai Ginjo (at least 40% of rice grain polished away)
Alcohol: 15.5%
Acidity: 1.4
Soft, honey-laced nose with just a tad of fruitiness. Dry overall, but with a sweet element creeping out of the background. Good richness and overall balance in a slightly dry profile. |
3 |
$30.00 |
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Mukune - Root of Innocence
Quality Grade: Junmai Ginjo (at least 40% of rice grain polished away)
Alcohol: 16%
Acidity: 1.8
Perfectly clear. Mellow and dry profile in which the flavor and the finish meld together, with plenty of the richness of the rice evident. |
10 |
$41.00 |
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Rihaku - Wandering Poet
Quality Grade: Junmai Ginjo (at least 40% of rice grain polished away)
Alcohol: 15.2%
Acidity: 1.6
Brewed carefully and slowly at low temperatures using traditional brewing techniques and Yamada Nishiki rice polished to 55%. Characterized by a well-rounded flavor with solidness to the flavor and fragrance, and a clean finish. Delicious. Mellow, balanced, long finish. |
11 |
$32.00 |
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Sato no Homare - Pride of the Village
Quality Grade: Junmai Ginjo (at least 40% of rice grain polished away)
Alcohol: 15.1%
Acidity: 1.3
An elegant, super-premium saké. A pleasingly light and fruity nose, laced with violets, strawberries, pear and grape. A refined and clear flavor, yet settled and deep. Semi-dry with a superbly clean finish. |
14 |
$44.00 |
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Chiyonoson - Sacred Power
Quality Grade: Junmai Ginjo (at least 40% of rice grain polished away)
Alcohol: 15.9%
Acidity: 1.5
Enjoy the rich, mellow flavor & deep recesses of this saké. |
5 |
$40.00 |
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Ginga Shizuku - Divine Droplets BEST OF EVENING
Quality Grade: Junmai Daiginjo (at least 50% of rice grain polished away)
Alcohol: 15.6%
Acidity: 1.2
Anise, peppery, a little chocolate fragrance, a clean and fresh taste, with flavor deep into the recesses. Truly one of the "Rolls-Royces" of Saké. |
17 |
$65.00 |
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Rihaku Nigori (Unfiltered) - Dreamy Clouds
Quality Grade: Tokubetsu Junmai (at least 30% of rice grain polished away, "Tokubetsu" = "Special")
Alcohol: 15.6%
Acidity: 1.6
Hints of yogurt. Aromas of rice and ripe red plums. Bright, mouthwatering acidity leads into a soft and chewy texture from the unfiltered rice particles. The rice flavor is joined by gently nutty and slightly fruity flavors in the long finish.
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5 |
$28.00 |
| Flight II: Sake Vodka |
Votes |
Full Retail $ |
Wokka Sake Vodka
39% alcohol. Blend of 20% Sake and 80% three filtration Vodka. Strong pungent ginger taste.
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N/A
in US |
15 |
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