Mura Mura River Junmai Ginjo Premium Saké

Rating: 13/23 Despite being labeled dry, this sake is quite sweet, in a pleasant way. It has a very clean flavor with only a slight noticeable alcohol presence and not too much bitterness. Hints of melon, followed by cantaloupe, and a peppery note throughout. The pepperiness, which might be harsh in a higher proof spirit, is quite agreeable here. There's also a touch of lemon. While the pepperiness is a slight flaw, it's an enjoyable sake overall. Perhaps that flavor is totori, not melon. Cantaloupe is still present. I'm noticing the harshness more now and unfortunately, it's diminishing my enjoyment. I would opt for a different sake in this price range, such as Haketsuru's Junmai Ginjo (15/23). The burn significantly detracts from it for me. It's not bad, but it's a bit rough. I do enjoy the spicy flavor, though. A score of 12 seems the lowest reasonable rating, but 13 or 14 is more likely. I'm leaning towards the higher end of 13, but I'm uncertain. It is quite enjoyable. What ultimately places it at a 13 for me is that it seems better chilled than at room temperature. Chilling that masks some of the rough edges isn't indicative of a high-quality product. The value proposition is certainly absent here. Revisiting this, I don't think it holds up well at all. The burn is excessive.

A crisp, vegan-friendly Junmai Ginjo Sake from Forest Grove, Oregon. It has a delicate beginning with hints of rice, stone fruits & spices; while a fresh middle adds hints of apple & pear; that led to an off-dry end of medium length with hints of brown sugar. December 2023