"Very pale color, deeper than the Wandering Poet but less brilliant. High-pitched, nuanced nose combines melon, lime, mint, nuts and dusty fresh herbs. Juicy and intense, with assertive flavors of citrus fruit, melon, herbs, spices and nuts. Not a heavy style but boasts impressive palate presence and plenty of character. The long finish hints at melon and nuts." (IWC)
TRULY, EXCEPTIONAL, COMPLEX SAKE KANBARA “BRIDE OF THE FOX” JUNMAI GINJO SAKE
In then nearly 20 years history of this guide this is the first time, I have recommended Sake—and what a superb Sake it is. Not only did its quality impress my wife and I, but while shopping at our local Japanese market this same Bride of the Fox Sake is selling for around $40 plus a bottle, while L.A. Wine has it on special for a bargain $27.95. I drink a fair amount of Sake and even the American brewed inexpensive ones are decent. While the better local and Japanese products are often quite good but often seem overpriced to me. A glaring exception is this Bride of the Fox, which is well worth its $27.95 price tag. What it has going for is that its flavors are complex and cover quite a taste span and (maybe what’s most important) its flavors linger wonderfully on the palate the same way a Grand Cru wine has a long complex finish. Even if you are not that great a fan of Sake, you owe it to yourself to experience this exceptional product. What did I eat it with? Japanese food of course, in this case several types of tuna and red snapper sashimi that I bought by the piece and sliced fresh at home, accompanied by buckwheat soba noodles.
PRICE:$27.95
(Martin's Guide to Wine Bargains)
Winery Notes:
Tasting Notes:
Intense aromas of grilled nuts, pistachio and a hint of warm liquid cocoa. In the mouth, the flavors follow thourgh with nuts and melon as it heads for a crisp finish, and then just a hint of lingering sweetness. It is at once savory and sweet, and has enogh power to make it a great match with a wide variety of food pairings. A truly distinctive sake.
Notable Facts:
The name of this wonderful sake was inspired by local legends about mysterious lights that appeared on nearby Mt. Kirin in the distant past. Locals claim the lights are paper lanterns carried in the fox-bride procession. This mysterious event is celebrated in Niigata every year in the fox-bride festival. Kaetsu uses rice grown on the high plains and pure mountain water to brew superior sake, both rich in aroma and clean in taste. |
