Miyoshino Jozo Natural Selection Mizumoto Junmai MNG (4/26)
From the maker of Hanatomoe, Hashimoto-san's terroir brand: a sake that can only be made in Yoshino. What happens when we make sake in Yoshino with as little intervention as possible?
Dried apricots and aged cheese. It’s like a little salad! Palate hits with acidity and minerality first, then a flush of fat-suspended canteloupe and heat hits, with tons of vanilla, lemon juice, enzymey pineapple, white pepper, clove, star anise and true cedar notes. There’s a bit of cherry, noyeaux, stonefruit. It’s a wild ride, but the palate finishes tight and clean, it doesn’t linger super long.
The method, "Mizumoto" refers to the pre-modern brewing method (invented ~1000 years ago by Buddhist brewing monks) which begins with a naturally sour water from raw rice, water, and lactic acid bacteria in the air. This method is particularly well suited to the damp, humid conditions in Nara, where the method originated.
(Note that this sake, like all of the Zev Rovine imports, is stored by the importer/distributor under cellar temps rather than refrigerated temps, regardless of being nama. This is an extension of the exporter Yoram's philosophy-- and in most cases the brewer as well-- which encourages and welcomes the changing face of aged nama, rather than trying to keep the sake in stasis. If the sake you receive is not showing to your taste, please store it and revisit at 6 months intervals. It is OK to age sake that has been previously opened.)
Specifications
Region: Kansai
Class: Junmai
Style: Namazake
Rice: Local blend (varies based on condition, intuition, etc. A blend typically dominated by Gin-no-Sato, easy to grow in humid conditions and less susceptible to collapse.)
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 70% (+/-)
ABV: 17%
Yeast: Ambient
Size: 720ml