Awasake Sparkling
Nagai Saké Inc. (Gunma - Japan)
Mizubasho Pure - 13% alc
This saké is clear with a straw color. The bubbles are quite big and then are becoming smaller with time. The first nose is shy with mint: it’s fresh. It’s also very bonbon. The second nose showcases ginjo ka aromas with plenty of aniseed. It has also after aeration some coco beans, ginger and candied lemon notes. The mouth is sweet with a velvet texture. The bubbles are more discrete during the tasting. White pepper is quite present with watery fruits like melon and cucumber. Also, apple, aniseed, coriander and ginger flavors are appearing. It’s very fresh with mint. The umami starts to appear with a short finish on rice.
Score : 14,5+/20 (88/100)
Takizawa Brewing Company Ltd. (Saitama - Japan)
Kikuizumi Hitosuji - 12% alc
This sake is transparent with a straw color. The bubbles are classic. The first nose is quite pronounced with grains and coco beans aromas. Then smoky notes appear with almond and vinous notes. The second nose is showing almond paste and acidulous grapefruit flavors. The tasting is sweet at the attack with coco beans, almond paste, orange and cooked apple. The acidity is well-balanced which makes this sake fresh. It’s powerful. The umami appears in the middle of the tasting with a light bitterness. It’s complex with aromas like fresh hazelnut, walnut, mirabelle, roasted rice. Like a Koshu style or a yellow wine (flor). The finish is long and persistent. The bubbles are standard.
Score : 16,5+/20 (93-94/100)
Takizawa Brewing Company Ltd. (Saitama - Japan)
Kikuizumi Hitosuji Rosé - 11% alc
This saké is transparent with a rose gold color. The bubbles are small and are creating a nice crown on the top. The first nose is lactic, creamy and smoky. It’s quite pronounced with bonbon notes. After aeration, the second nose shows some citrus fruit and saffron. The attack is sweet with hazelnut, lactic notes, peach and raspberry aromas. It’s quite acidulous with orange and orange zest. The bubbles are nice and refreshing. It’s gourmand. The finish is long with toffee, rice and candied fruits aromas. Nice balance.
Score : 15/20 (89-90/100)
Kitaya Co. Ltd. (Fukuoka - Japan)
Kitaya Sparkling Crystal - 12% alc
This sake has a nice foam with medium-sized bubbles which are numerous and fast. It’s limpid, transparent with a light greenish reflection. The first nose is aromatic with fresh herbs, peach and green fruits. The second nose is even more pronounced with dark chocolate, soy and wormwood. The attack is fresh with personality. There is a lot of umami, it’s smooth with some sweetness. It has some fruity aromas like green grape, greengage (Reine-Claude plum), green plum, coconut. The bubbles are creating a nice texture, it’s gourmand. It also showcases a light bitterness at the end with almond and apple seed. The finish is long with buttery biscuit and yellow apple aromas.
Score : 15,5/20 (90-91/100)
Akita Seishu Co. Ltd. (Akita - Japan)
Dewatsuru Awasaké Ashitae - 13% alc
The sake has a nice foam with small bubbles. It creates a pretty ring on the top of the glass. The bubbles are shy after few minutes. The first nose is powerful with apple, lychee, pear and then some lactic notes. The second nose is still fruity with pineapple and some aniseed flavors. It’s fresh. The tasting is smooth, refreshing. The aromas are lactic with pineapple. The sweetness appears in the middle of the tasting with umami. The bubbles are discrete. Some yellow apple, kukicha green tea and pepper are developing. The finish is long but subtle.
Score : 15+/20 (89-90/100)
Tenzan Saké Brewery Co. Ltd. (Saga - Japan)
Tenzan Sparkling - 13% alc
This sake is transparent with a silver reflection. The foam is disappearing fast, letting middle sized bubbles create rings on the surface. The first nose is full of lactic aromas like peachy yogurt and apricot. The second nose allows coconut water and marshmallow to pop. It’s sweet. The tasting is fresh with a dry attack. It becomes very salty with lactic flavors and banana. It’s very unique. The iodine is powerful with melon, salty almond and rice. The finish is mineral with a nice acidity. Score : 13/20 (84/100)
Hachinohe Shuzo Co. Ltd. (Aomori - Japan)
Mutsu Hasen Dry Sparkling - 12% alc
This sake is clear and clean with a transparent straw color. The bubbles are small and numerous, creating nice strings. The first nose is powerful with stone fruits, lychee, rice and yellow apple. The second nose showcases a little bit of alcohol and some autolysis notes but also sweet spices. The attack is fresh with acidity. It’s slightly sweet. The bubbles are persistent. Autolysis notes with yellow apple and peach are the main aromas. It’s more about the texture: creamy and wellbalanced. The umami appears at the end of the tasting in a long finish with bitter almond and nectarine flavors.
Score : 16/20 (92/100)