Nanbu Bijin 南部美人Tokubetsu Junmai 特别純米55% Seimai Buai

Rice - Ginotome 吟乙女🌾
Prefecture - Iwate 岩手県
Brewery - Nanbu Bijin Brewery
Alcohol - Below 16%
Color - Light Yellow
Aroma - Steam 🍚, Alcohol, 🍏, Vanilla
Taste - Medium
Umami - Medium
First impression - Lively
Body - Medium
Sweetness - Medium Dry
Tail/length - Medium
Overall - I did an online Nanbu Bijin sake brewery tour 2 weeks ago and this was one of the 3 sakes that was presented for tasting by the President, Mr. Kosuke Kuji. This sake won the 2017 IWC International Wine Challenge and is 1 of the 3 Nanbu Bijin Sake that has the family crest of the Kuji family imprinted on the bottle besides the Ginjo (blue bottle) and the Junmai Ginjo (green bottle). Nanbu Bijin makes sakes that are vegan and Kosher certified like this bottle and it has a 🇯🇵 logo printed at the back to signify the country of origin. Made with Kyokai 9 yeast which is the usual yeast for Ginjo shu, this sake consist of fruity aroma of apple and vanilla but at the same time display the ingredient aroma of a Junmai shu which is the fragrance of steam 🍚 and alcohol. The umami level is somewhere between medium to high and this is inline with my expectation of a Tokubetsu Junmai that comes in first in the IWC award. The medium taste and body with the medium dry texture all blends in completely to make this sake a well rounded one. I would recommend to pair this sake with meat dishes, especially those on a medium to heavy flavored type like yakitori, Hamburg or even beef goulash as the umami of the sake will make a good combination with such dishes. Good for people who are new to Tokubetsu Junmai and wants to try how it taste like. Also this sake can be drank both chill and nurukan.
Overall, this is a very good sake.

Mitsui San
An amateur sake lover who loves anything 🇯🇵 and started exploring 🍶 drinking 5 years ago. A Kikisakeshi #唎酒師 by SSI & Certified Sake Sommelier by SSA. IG: @mitsui.sakenoob