Search results for: 'sake rhone red blends'

90 Points! A destemmed blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and the rest Carignan, the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône is ruby/plum-hued and offers a beautifully pure, medium-bodied, elegant profile in its red and black fruits, peppery herb, and leather-like aromas and flavors. This juicy, vibrant, balanced Côtes Du Rhône will drink well for at least 4-5 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points! The 2020 Esprit is a blend of Mataro, Grenache and Cinsault. This has earthy mulberries strung up on a rachis of spicy tannin: fine-boned and tuned into the higher spice flow. It is pure, as all the Spinifex wines are. - Erin Larkin, robertparker.com

90 Points! Mainly Grenache, with the balance a blend of Mourvèdre and Syrah, the 2019 Cotes du Rhone offers up notions of ripe cherries, garrigue and even a few modest hints of pine sap. Medium to full-bodied, it's concentrated and ripe yet silky and reasonably elegant. Drink it over the next several years. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

TASTING NOTE: The epitome of purity, this sake is more subtle and nuanced than most highly aromatic Junmai Daiginjos. It is based on the ideals of Zen Buddhism and "wabi-sabi," the belief that beauty within the arts should be as understated and pure as a simple strand of pearls.  Aromas of white flower, Asian pear & steamed rice. Finishes elegantly with rich minerality and rice texture. Serve slightly chilled.

Region: Shimane

Grade: Junmai Daiginjo

Seimaibuai: 50%

Nihonshu-Do: +2

ABV: 15.5% 

Rice: Yamada Nishiki

90 Points! Juicy red berries, herbes de Provence, pepper, and a hint of sandalwood lift from the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône Mon Coeur. Medium-bodied and nicely balanced, with savory tannins and tons of personality and charm, it's perfect for drinking over the coming 4-6 years. Drink 2025-2031. - Jeb Dunnuck

42% Viognier, 18% Marsanne, 18% Roussanne, 12% Clairette, 10% Grenache Blanc

Vineyards:
White Hawk, Bien Nacido, La Presa, Last Frontier, Edna Ranch, Melange Du Rhone

Fermentation:
Barrel fermented on the lees with native yeast. Grenache Blanc Only - tank fermented without heavy lees

Elevage:
5 months in French Oak (7% New, 17% Second Fill, 76% Neutral)

From one of the most famous and sought after Sake breweries in Japan!

TASTING NOTES: A soft sake with complex flavors of honeycomb, pear, cream, roasted almonds and nougat, softer aromas of pear blossom will emerge as the sake opens in the glass.

Region: Ishikawa Prefecture

Quality Grade: Junmai 

Seimaibuai: 65%

Nihonshu-Do: -4.0

Rice: Yamada Nishiki

Alcohol: 15.5%

TASTING NOTES: Aromas of green melon rind and kaffir lime leaves. Creamy, luxurious mid palate with a spearmint-driven herbal finish.

Region: Yamaguchi

Quality Grade: Tokubetsu Junmai

Seimaibuai: 60%

Nihonshu-Do: +6.0

Rice: Yamada Nishiki & Hattan Nishiki

Alcohol: 15.5%

With the small amounts produced, the years of aging needed to produce each bottle and the centuries of experience crafting sake, Kikuhime has become one of the most renowned and sought after sake in the world, prized by chefs and restaurants for its nuanced pairings, and by collectors who enjoy the subtleties that develop over the years. 

BY or “Brew Year” references that unlike the extended aging for most Kikuhime this Daiginjo is released in the same year it was brewed to showcase its vibrancy. A complex, bold and dry sake. Has the fresh melon notes associated with highly polished sake, but contrasted by a big structure and chewy texture that broaden the flavor and make it exceedingly complex. Pairs beautifully with a broad range of food, excellent with simple preparations of white fish and vegetables but bold enough to pair with fatty tuna, pork and richer flavors.Can be consumed now to enjoy vibrant fruit or if aged will continue to develop earthy tones.

Region: Ishikawa Prefecture

Quality Grade: Daiginjo

Seimaibuai: 50%

Nihonshu-Do: N/A

Rice: Yamada Nishiki

Alcohol: 17.5%

This undiluted natural drip junmai daiginjo made with the kimoto method is Daishichi’s superlative sake. This sake was created by reviewing all processes in sake making and taking them once again to a higher level, as if ascending on a spiralling staircase. The result is the ultimate sake.

Complex, with a vigorous, animated vitality, and a completely satisfying balance. Beauty that surpasses the imagination. I recommend a long decant. Tastes amazing a week after opening.

93 Points! A solid, focused, juicy and poised wine, showing red berries, sweet spices and dried-flower aromas. Medium-bodied with finely grained tannins. Lovely crushed-strawberry character to the silky texture. Bright and fruit-forward, this has a seductive, succulent finish and a lift of peppercorns. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

92 Points! Bottled three months ago and showing beautifully, the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône Coudoulet De Beaucastel is based on 30% each of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre with 10% Cinsault and brought up all in foudre. It offers darker berries, pepper, sappy flowers, and some obvious stony, earth-like minerality in a medium-bodied, nicely concentrated, layered style. It's balanced with terrific purity, ripe tannins, and outstanding length, offering incredible pleasure today, yet it will keep for 10-12 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

Please Note: This sake is unpasteurized. While we can ship unpasteurized sake, the decision is ultimately up to the customer. It's advisable to avoid shipping unpasteurized sake during very hot summers or extremely cold winters. By purchasing unpasteurized sake and selecting a shipping method from us, you are consenting to us shipping it to you. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or email us.

A lively and expressive namazake with bright aromas of fresh rice, melon, and green apple. The palate is vibrant and energetic with crisp acidity, subtle umami, and a lightly creamy texture that balances the sake’s youthful freshness. The finish is clean and refreshing with a gentle savory edge.

Region: Shiga Prefecture
Quality Grade: Junmai Namazake
Seimaibuai: 60%
Nihonshu-Do: +6
Rice: Tamazakae
Alcohol: 15%

This Daiginjo sake offers an aromatic and smooth profile with notes of ripe raspberry, melon, daphne, dried flowers, and a hint of sour rice. The palate is soft-textured, leading to a compact and dry finish. Fittingly, it hails from Iwate Prefecture, the same region that produced Dodger legend Shohei Ohtani, making this sake a home run for fans of refined craft and local legacy alike.

Region: Iwate Prefecture
Quality Grade: Daiginjo
Seimaibuai: 50%
Nihonshu-Do: +2.5
Rice: Ginginga
Alcohol: 16.5%

Asahi-Shuzo Sake Brewing Company Co., Ltd. (Kubota) always puts quality first, and this is no different with Kubota “Senju.” This sake’s aim is to improve any meal, and it definitely succeeds. The modest nose and classic melon flavor are the perfect touch to a wide range of cuisine. Not only does it brighten your taste buds, but it's made through environmentally friendly practices. Since sake comes from nature, the brewers believe its creation shouldn’t harm the earth that births it.

Tasting Note:
Kubota Senjyu Ginjo presents a modest bouquet with classic melon flavors, offering a clean and crisp finish.

Region: Niigata Prefecture

Quality Grade: Ginjo

Seimaibuai: 50% for Koji rice; 55% for Kake rice

Nihonshu-Do: +5

Rice: Gohyakumangoku

Alcohol: 15%

This high-end Kōchi-style Daiginjo is made just once a year in small batches, showcasing the brewery's dedication to craftsmanship. The rice is sourced from the Tojo region, considered one of the best for sake rice in Japan. After a slow fermentation process lasting 35 days at low temperatures, the sake is aged just below freezing for several months to achieve a soft texture and deep flavors while retaining bright, fresh, and citrus-like qualities.

This sake presents a fresh collection of aromas, including cherry, papaya, mango, cantaloupe, persimmon, simple syrup, and condensed milk. On the palate, it is light, balanced, bright, and refreshing, with flavors of Asian pear, green apple, grapefruit, cantaloupe, and lime, leading to a quick and dry mineral finish. ​

Region: Kōchi Prefecture​

Quality Grade: Junmai Daiginjo​

Seimaibuai: 30%​

Nihonshu-Do: +3​

Rice: Grade A Yamada Nishiki from Tojo​

Alcohol: 15%

93 Points! The 2021 Trespasser is more focused and inward, with darker fruits, graphite, candied violets, and chocolaty, subtle leafy herb-like nuances. It's a rich, full-bodied, concentrated red based on 38% Petite Sirah, 37% Syrah, and 25% Mourvèdre that spent 22 months in 50% new 300- and 400-liter puncheons. It will shine for 5-7 years, if not a decade. - Jeb Dunnuck

This lightly cloudy nigori sake has a soft, creamy texture with flavors of steamed rice, nuts, and slightly tart fruit. It strikes a beautiful balance between richness and dryness, with a clean finish that keeps it refreshing and food-friendly. This nigori sake is notable for its higher milling rate, technically qualifying it as Junmai Ginjo grade - a rare quality level for a cloudy sake.

Region: Shimane Prefecture

Quality Grade: Tokubetsu Junmai

Seimaibuai: 59%

Nihonshu-Do: +3

Rice: Gohyakumangoku

Alcohol: 15.6%