Kirinzan 麒麟山 Yukinoshita Junmai Ginjo 純米吟釀 50% Seimai Buai

Rice - 100% Takane Nishiki 髙嶺錦🌾
Prefecture - Niigata 新澙市
Brewery - Kirinzan Sake Brewery
Alcohol - 15%
Color - Colorless
Aroma - Soy sauce, wet 🍚, Brie
Taste - Medium
Umami - Medium
First impression - Lively
Body - Light
Sweetness - Medium Dry
Tail/length - Medium

Overall - Decided to continue my sake journey with Kirinzan having tasted their Potari Potari Junmai Ginjo. This time round another bottle of Junmai Ginjo. The first aroma that greeted me was soy sauce, wet 🍚 and some hints of Brie. I was quite surprise as I wasn’t expecting such aromas from a Junmai Ginjo type sake. Tried it chilled at 10c. The medium umami matches the medium taste but I find that the body is a little on the lighter side. I think for the kind of umami and taste, I would prefer a medium body to go with it. Next, I decided to try it warm at around 45c. I have a tendency to warm sake that has soy sauce, earthy flavor when chilled so as to feel and taste the difference. The aromas that greeted me when it is warm is no longer soy sauce or wet 🍚. The aroma has been replaced with sweet smelling scent of freshly cooked 🍚, more towards the brown rice type. A little sweet smelling but not too overwhelming. When drunk warmed, I find that the sake is more well balanced as the body become more robust and the texture more mellow. The fragrance is also slightly lighter and sweeter which I like. Really goes well with the sashimi that I paired it with especially on a cold and rainy night. Makes my body warm up as though I am drinking during late winter/early spring in Hokkaido. I am guessing that this sake when warmed can go well with most food or even drinking it on its own. Smooth down the throat and easy to drink. Man, it has been 2 years since I last been to 🇯🇵. Hope we can start traveling again.
Overall this is a very good sake.

Mitsui San
An amateur sake lover who loves anything 🇯🇵 and started exploring 🍶 drinking 5 years ago. A Kikisakeshi #唎酒師 by SSI & Certified Sake Sommelier by SSA. IG: @mitsui.sakenoob