Gikyo Junmai Ginjo Genshu 50% ★★★★

Gikyo (Yamachu Honke Sake Brewery) [Aichi Prefecture]
<Drunk in April 2020>

This is one of my favorite breweries (brands), and as you can see, it is wrapped in the local Aichi newspaper, the 'Chunichi Shimbun'. (I've never checked if it's 100% Chunichi Shimbun, though...)
I also like the atmosphere of it being a hidden treasure sake. But when I think about it, it must be quite a lot of work to prepare this much crisp newspaper...

Now, as for the taste itself...
First, I bring my face close to the cup. A scent that makes me smile involuntarily. It's not flashy, but it has a soft, fruity aroma that doesn't interfere with the meal.
I take a sip; it's a dry, crisp sake. On the second sip, no, that's not it—the umami of the rice slowly spreads through my mouth. On the third sip, the umami lingers softly at the back of my palate and passes through my nasal cavity. It just keeps getting better. Since it doesn't interfere with the food, it's perfect as a sake to accompany a meal.

Gikyo also puts effort into aged sake. Even though it's called aged sake, it is sake that has been stored long-term in an ultra-cold refrigerator. This one is the youngest among them, a one-year-old bottle. There is also a 10-year-old version, so I would like to try comparing them side-by-side.

It goes well with any dish, but how about pairing it with local specialties from near the brewery, such as delicious grilled seaweed from Ise Bay with a touch of soy sauce, or clam tsukudani, a specialty of Kuwana?

Brand: Gikyo Junmai Genshu 50% H30BY Pasteurized Sake
Alcohol content 16-17%,
Uses Yamada Nishiki from the Special A district of Tojo, Hyogo Prefecture
Rating: ★★★★
Sweetness 3, Acidity 4, Bitterness 4, Umami 5, Aroma 4
Price: 2,640 yen (720ml) Cost-performance: ◎