Akabu Junmai Ginjo

The nose on this sake that is made with the local Iwate popular Gin Ginga rice varietal is a gentle collection of plum, honeydew melon, sweet rice, pear, and honey aromas. The head sake brewer Ryunosuke Furudate of Akabu Shuzo has a simple philosophy for his sake, and that is to not think too much about the brews and simply just enjoy them. This sake, like their other offerings, is a great example of playing in the subtle zone of sake making. It’s so gentle and nuanced, that your first thought is that this is a simple sake, and that’s the key to the elegance and balance of this brew. It’s silky, light, fresh, and balanced, with a gentle water-like texture that makes this sake very easy to drink. Look for blueberry, grape, melon, pear, lychee, and snow cone flavors, that excel in a medium-sized cup. As the fluid warms in the glass, a creaminess comes forth with lots of umami. This is phantom sake at its best, because it drinks like a whisper and just disappears. WORD: Balanced WINE: Gentle Reds/Clean Whites BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Gentle fare, shellfish, grilled fish, poached fish and chicken.