Type
Heiwa Shuzo "KID" Junmai Ginjo Nama "Natsu no Shippu"
$39.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Rice
Gohyakumangoku
Flavor profileEach scale is our tasting-room read on where this bottle sits between two extremes — dry to sweet, light to full-bodied, soft to acidic, and subtle to aromatic. These are subjective, however, and will shift with food, serveware & temp.
DrySweetBalanced dry: reads as dry, with a little bit of softness, or maybe a fruit/brown sugar note that tempers the impression of dryness. Most people will read "2" as dry.
LightFullLight: lean and easy, mellow, has enough flavor and umami to give it character but generally really easy to drink. This is the most common weight for junmai ginjo/ginjo sake.
SoftAcidicAbove-average acidity, an important part of this sake's character, but nowhere near sour/tart. Lift, refreshing. When paired with higher sweetness, it creates a juicy, ripe impression.
SubtleAromaticAromatic: aroma is a big part of this sake's character and design. Perfume fills the glass. Usually "4" aroma is coming from ginjo-ka (fruit, florals).
Pairs with
First thought when I tried Natsu, is that this would be fantastic with a classic melon, proscuitto and mint canape or salad. Play off the dry, herbaceous melon flavors and the deep umami.
A brisk and chilling release from KID! An intriguing, dry profile, with notes of melon, mint, and spring water... totally channeling the classic Italian combo of melon-mint-proscuitto. After your palate adjusts to the dry start, there's an an umami rush in the mid palate and an astringent finish. It's almost like the surf goes out with the initial dry shallowness, and a wave of umami comes back in. Notes of altoids, witch hazel, cucumber, gooseberry and lemongrass. Serve ice cold to light chill, but I'll bet it wouldn't mind a gentle warming, either.
About KID seasonals:
As in Spring, the fascinating thing about KID seasonal sake is that the ingredients never change, but the flavors absolutely do. Always made with the same rice (Gohyakumangoku), water (Koyasan Nansui), ABV (15%), polishing ratio (50-55%), and yeast (blend of 901, 10, 14 and 1801), the variation in style is a result of maturity and minor tweaks in brewing temperature, fermentation curves, and handling. Natsu no Shippou, Summer’s Strong Wind, is dry, a bit astringent, herbaceous, very serious, and drinks very well at ice-cold temps. The name “KID” is a reference to approaching sake with a sense of novelty and open-mindedness, but also a portmanteau of “Kisshu” and “fudo”: Kisshu being the old name for Wakayama, and fudo meaning environment. KID is brewed to be modern in style, but the lack of variables in the seasonal releases (and all of their sake, in fact) lets the subtle influence of fudo-- terroir?-- express itself.
Like the rest of their seasonal line, KID is doing a few unique things with this sake. First they are using Gohyakumangoku rice, which is a harder, denser variety that doesn’t dissolve as completely in the brew. As a result, the sake is more “angular” in the mouth-- not as plush. They are also using 4 different types of yeast and blending to achieve balance. 1801 lends notes of fennel and green apple, but it lacks umami. 901 lends richness and umami, but has mellower aromas of banana and melon. Together they form a whole and show off KID's blending skills.
Your case:
$30 flat-rate case shipping (up to 12 bottles) — the more you add, the less per bottle. Per federal requirements, an adult (21+) with photo ID must be present to receive the delivery.
Sake Club members: $20 shipping (up to 12 bottles) with your club bottles About the clubs
Specifications
Region: Kansai
Class: Junmai Ginjo
Style: Namazake
Rice: Gohyakumangoku
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 50%/55%
ABV: 15%
SMV: +4
Acidity: 1.8
Yeast: 1801, 901, 14, 10
Size: 720ml
Shipping
Available nationwide to states and counties that permit alcohol. No sales tax (Oregon). Flat-rate case shipping; in-store pickup available.
Pick up in person
Shop open Tu–Sun. Order online and pick up at the shop — 107 SE Washington St. #121, Portland, Oregon.
