Tengumai Junmai Yamahai Shikomi [1 Koku - 71]

From Shata Shuzo in Ishikawa, made from gohyakumangoku rice milled to 60%, SMV +4, acidity 1.9, amino acidity 1.8, and 15.8% abv. Relatively clean nose, smoky, incense notes, salty air. On the palate, smoky, mushroomy, brine, seaweed, chocolate, charcoal... good acidity... sweet on entry, but then tart, bitter, savoury... this is umami.... contradictory finish... it's clean, yes, really, but the aftertaste is complex, cocoa, caramel... intense stuff... can't drink a lot of this at a go, one, maybe two cups, and then it's just too much intensity... super sipping stuff.