Hanagaki Oka Seikai Junmai Daiginjo (花垣 桜花青海 純米大吟醸)

Nambu Shuzojo is a historic brewery established in 1901 in Ono, Fukui Prefecture, a town of water blessed with 'Oshozu,' chosen as one of Japan's 100 best natural water sources. Their brand name, 'Hanagaki,' carries an affectionate wish to brighten people's hearts like a blooming cherry blossom fence on a spring day. 'Oka Seikai' (Cherry Blossom and Blue Sea), true to its name, is a premium Junmai Daiginjo sake that captures the pristine nature and beautiful scenery of Fukui in a single bottle. Delicately milling locally grown sake rice down to 50% and using the clear soft water of Oshozu, they have perfected a silky, smooth, and transparent profile. According to global enthusiasts and sommeliers, the charm of this sake begins with the elegant nuances of cherry blossom and the bright aromas of fresh white peach that affectionately rise from the glass. Upon taking a soft sip, moving past the silky and comforting texture unique to Fukui's soft water, the transparent and clear umami of the rice elegantly blooms in the mouth. The soft acidity around 1.4 refreshingly embraces the smoothness that might otherwise feel flat, and the lingering finish cleanly scatters along the neat +1 to +3 SMV. Leaving a bright floral scent while gently cleansing the palate, it is a lovely sake that adds elegance to any dining table on a special occasion.

Hanagaki Ohka Seikai Junmai Daiginjo, with its delicate aroma and silky texture, pairs excellently with the following dishes: 1. Terroir Pairing: Fugu Sashimi (ふぐ刺し). The subtle and delicate flavor of fugu complements the sake's clean, gentle sweetness and transparent rice umami perfectly. The sake's subtle floral notes enhance the taste of the fugu, while its clean finish refreshes the palate. 2. Creative Pairing: Oysters with Ponzu. The fresh oceanic flavor of oysters and the bright citrus notes of ponzu harmonize with the sake's subtle lactic acidity and clean mineral notes. The sake's silky texture complements the creamy texture of the oysters, and its gentle sweetness softens the saltiness of the oysters.