New Store Arrivals – Shichiken Sparkling, Fukugao, Midorigawa Aged, Tonoike Shizuku, Shichiken Junmai Daiginjo

Shichiken "Mori no Kanade"
From Yamanashi Prefecture. Sparkling. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this world-class Sparkling sake is a very special collection of lemon zest, juniper, plum, guava, peppercorn, candy apple, mango, yogurt, and a touch of woody and oak aromas. Why would a brewery put their sparkling sake in Suntory whiskey barrels? The sparkling sake category is one of the most evolving categories in sake today, and this amazing Sparkling is at the tip of the complexity-and-pampered spears. It absolutely has one of the best finishes in the Sparkling game, and drinks bright, crisp, dry, tingling, and brut-like with stunning flavors, and an impeccable balance. It's complex, but radically approachable, with refreshing and tight bubbles that dance between savory and elegantly tart and clean. Look for tangerine, orange peel, Asian pear, crisp apple, blackberry, fig, pie crust, and caramel apple flavors that hide a very faint woodiness that evolves into a world-class finish. This sake is finally available in the US and it is totally worth the wait. WORD: World Class WINE: Sparkling BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Champagne fare, cheese and fruit boards, caviar, canapés, complex dried meats and fish, dried fish eggs, and foie gras.

Fukugao Toku A Yamadanishiki "Echigo Heiya"
From Niigata Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo. SMV: +4 Acidity: N/A
The nose on this professional Junmai Ginjo is a rich collection of hay, cashew, soil, vanilla, tapioca, oatmeal, barley, date, raisin, dried pineapple, and steamed rice aromas. This is an amazing lesson in sake in one bottle! Most Junmai Ginjo sake today are fruit bombs with super Ginjo-ka (fruity) aromas that drink like bright white wines. Say hello to a throwback Ginjo that drinks on the rich and savory side and is actually an umami bomb. Smooth, round, fluffy, velvety, creamy, juicy, and with a very long finish, this brew is balanced and very rich. Look for cocoa nib, buttermilk, powdered sugar, butter, cream, lemon cake, honey, peanut butter, dark chocolate, Whoppers™,  and washed-rind cheese flavors that flow with a plump viscosity across the palate. Super classic savory sake that does well chilled, room temp, and lightly warmed. WORD: Rich WINE: Pinot Noir/White Burgundy BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Izakaya fare, yakitori, rich pastas, red meat sashimi, street and food truck fare, comfort foods, fried and savory fare.


Midorikawa "Green River"
From Niigata Prefecture. Aged Daiginjo. SMV: +5 Acidity: 1.5
The nose on this extremely pampered Daiginjo is a very complex array of hay, cotton, corn, white pepper, orange peel, rice cracker, and steamed rice aromas. Some sake are made and some are handcrafted. This brew has been handcrafted with lots and lots of attention. First of all, it's been low-temperature aged in a small vat for 2 years, but it's also been blended with 2-to-8 year versions to achieve the best flavor zone, and gets released when it's ready. Are you ready to taste perhaps one of the most Niigata-sake-drinkers ultimate Niigata-styled premium brews? Silky, smooth, medium-bodied, water-like, clean, pristine, semi-rich, and all ricey-dry, this sake is complex, nuanced, and subtle, with an umami finish and an overall dry drinking experience. Look for a very ethereal collection of gentle flavors such as peanut brittle, button mushroom, pine needle, nutmeg, daikon, white chocolate, cucumber, almond, lemon water, and steamed rice with lots of umami, and a dry uptick finish. This brew was built for the sushi counter. WORD: Dry WINE: Complex Reds/Dry Whites BEER: Dry Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, oysters, caviar, lobster, shellfish, Champagne fare, premium yakitori, and dried fish eggs.

Tonoike Yamadanishiki "Drop of Grace"
From Tochigi Prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo Shizuku. SMV: -4.5 Acidity: 1.4
The nose on this masterpiece made by a brewing master that has TWO Brewing Guild Titles (very rare) is a glorious collection of grape, spun sugar, Granny Smith, honeydew, mango, papaya, candied fennel, and blueberry aromas. Made using the very laborious shizuku or gravity drip method with premium Yamadanishiki rice milled to 38%, this sake is simply a cut above, and given that it is made in Tochigi Prefecture, you can bet that this is not only medal-winning sake, but it's world-class as well. When you want to taste the best, this "Drop of Grace" is for you. Velvety, elegant, layered, smooth, clean, round, slippery, off-sweet, and very delicate, this brew drinks with silky confidence and presents an uptick finish that is complex and ethereal. Look for cantaloupe, papaya, jasmine, grape, blueberry, persimmon, pineapple, lemon-lime, rice cracker, and finger lime flavors that are elegant and expressive with a little tannin-like dryness that speaks to wine aficionados. This could very well be the best bottle of sake in all of Tochigi Prefecture, and is a master class in how amazing rice can get in liquid form. And True Sake is the exclusive retail outlet on the West Coast for this and other Tonoike products. WORD: Master Class WINE: Bordeaux/Burgundy BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, lobster, caviar, oysters, king crab, dried fish eggs, Champagne fare, foie gras, and ankimo.

Shichiken "Kinu no Aji"
From Yamanashi Prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this sake from Yamanashi Prefecture is a gentle collection of strawberry, grape popsicle, honeydew, papaya, berries-n-cream, and powdered sugar aromas. Tasting sake should be relaxing, fun, informative, and delicious... and this Junmai Daiginjo is all of that and more. First, look at that price point and ask yourself how can a sake this amazing be this affordable? Then dig in and feel the smooth, light, juicy, round, silky, fruity and fun feelings of rice and water at its premium best. Look for Fuji apple, papaya, lavender, honeydew, strawberry, powdered sugar, and sweet rice flavors that glide on a refreshing and juicy flow that is almost textbook Junmai Daiginjo 101 in nature, but far more refined and pure. New sake drinkers exploring the category take note, and pros think of the quality-to-value ratio on this superb sake. Drink chilled out of a white wine glass and have fun. WORD: Fruity WINE: Juicy Reds/Fruity Whites BEER: Fruity Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, grilled fish, white fish sashimi, grilled chicken, fruit and cheese plates, tofu, crab, shrimp, and fish paste.