Type
Terada Honke · Chiba
Terada Honke "Katori 90" Junmai Kimoto Muroka Nama Genshu (4/26)
$47.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Rice
Koshihikari table rice (Chiba, organic), Yukigesho (organic)
Prefecture
Chiba
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.
LightFullVery full: big, dense and viscous, layered and very complex, and/or lots of sweetness, alcohol, umami & age (or all the above). Like a strong cocktail, you'll sip a 5 more slowly.
SoftAcidicVery acidic: sharp and tangy. Might be sparkling, contain citrus, have a high koji content, or utilize natural brewing methods that produce lots of lactic or acetic acid.
SubtleAromaticModerate aroma: noticeable from the glass. Most often, moderate intensity aromas are either ginjo-ka (fruit, florals) or koshu-ka (nuts, mushroom, brown sugar).
Pairs with
In the past, I've seen fireworks pairing this sake with sweet potato tacos doused in smoky salsa. The low degree of polishing--only 10% of the rice removed-- means high umami, rich, almost tannic texture, and fantastic complexity. This is as far as we get from the calculated daiginjo of Dassai.
Any discussion of Terada Honke has to be prefaced with an explanation of this brewery's philosophy, which is one-of-a-kind in the sake world: totally committed to sustainable (even rejuvenative) farming practices, including the nutritional value of microorganisms and whole grain rice.
Katori 90, like all year-round, native yeast fermented sake, varies tremendously from batch to batch. As a 2023 Winter bottling, this round of Katori 90 is much fresher, fruitier than the previous, which landed in November 2021. The cold weather during fermentation and bottling prevented bacterial growth and encouraged the strongest yeasts to survive. The result is a very lovely Katori 90.
Ground shipping is $25 to $40, free at 12 bottles.
Free pickup at our Portland shop. An adult (21+) with photo ID must be present for delivery.
Specifications
Poured at our Wednesday Flight
- Wednesday Lessons #16: Rice, Farming, and Future, Jul 26, 2023
Shipping
Ships to most states, not Alaska, Hawaii or Utah. No sales tax (Oregon). Free Ground shipping at 12 bottles. Pickup at our Portland shop is free.
Pick up in person
Shop open Tu–Sun. Order online and pick up at the shop — 107 SE Washington St. #121, Portland, Oregon.
