Aoki Shuzo Kakurei Junmai Ginjo

Kakurei is the signature brand of Aoki Shuzo, brewing continuously since 1717 in Shiozawa — a corner of Niigata's famed Uonuma rice region said to have the best well water in the entire area — now run by the founder's 12th-generation descendant, Takafumi Aoki. The house philosophy is "Wago," the connection between everyone in a sake's life: brewers, rice farmers, sellers, and drinkers, forged by centuries of enduring Japan's snowiest winters together. True to tradition, sake is brewed only in the cold months, letting natural winter temperatures guide fermentation with soft well water from Mt. Makihata. This Junmai Ginjo is milled to 55%, with an SMV of +0.5 and 15.5% ABV — where most Niigata sake runs bone-dry and austere, Kakurei deliberately preserves the rice's round umami. It won Gold at the 2020 US National Sake Appraisal, and one sake writer notes it's the favorite pour of several master brewers he's met — as strong an endorsement as the industry gives. Expect moderate floral aromatics with banana, pear, and baked apple, a light, silky, fresh palate with gentle rice umami, and a soft, clean finish. Serve chilled with grilled fish, raw oysters, or vegetable tempura with salt.

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