Shirataki Junmai [1 Koku - 49]

Shirataki (White Waterfall) Junmai from Shirataki Shuzo, in Niigata Prefecture's Echigo Yuzawa. Gohyakumangoku milled to 60%, SMV +3, 14% abv. Sweet, creamy, chestnut, peach, and melon nose. Surprisingly soft and round, almost but not quite viscous, not as crisp as other Echigo sake I've had, but still very clean and tasty, with a dark, drying finish, hints of burning rubber. Nice mouthfeel, good integration, even up to room temperature, though I still prefer it chilled.

Oddly, this particular sake doesn't appear on the company's website, but a quick email garnered a quick and detailed response. Turns out, the exported product is the same as the Tanrei Uonuma Junmai, something to do with a labeling request from the importer. Uonuma is allegedly famous for its natural beauty, but more importantly for sake brewers (and sake lovers), it is famed for high quality rice. Can't complain about that!

Now, it seems that the brewery is just the other side of the train station from the ski-slopes - wish I had known that when I was out there in February of last year, we had quite of few of the resort's own-label cup sake while slopeside (though it has been suggested that it was likely the Funaguchi from Kikusui, not a Shirataki.)

Don't know about you, but this is how we get prepared for skiing. With cup sake.

Must keep up one's strength.

Getting Echigo'ed. Managing the wasabi and shoyu was a little difficult, but we managed.