Nanbu Bijin Tokubetsu Junmai "Southern Beauty"

Say hello to the IWC Grand Prize Champion for 2017. This top trophy winner has an expressive nose filled with strawberry, sweet rice, and mineral water aromas. Lush, velvety, plump, and expressive enjoy a sake that walks the walk! It is smooth and gentle but with a complexity that speaks to wine drinkers who like brightness and depth. This "Beauty" is fruit-forward with shades of pear, berries, and a hint of creaminess. But the overall drinking experience is semi dry with a gentle tail. A midsize glass brings out the balance of this sake that is a reflection of the Tohoku sake style. WORD: Engaging WINE: Soft Reds/Complex Whites BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Shellfish, Oysters, grilled fish and chicken.