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Shirakabe Gura, Japan, Sake Review

Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

Junmai.  14.9%ABV.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has almonds, nutmeg and green apples.  On the palate, honeydew melons, and almonds.  Complex and deep.   

Hanatomoe Mizumoto "Miyoshio Jozo", Japan, Sake Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

70% Rice Polishing.  17% ABV.  Made with a technique called Bodaimoto which increases the acidity in the starter water.  Green/gold in color.  The nose smells like a faint scent of vomit (think of those Harry Potter Jelly Beans).  Not pleasant but not terrible.  Also a bit of banana and vanilla.  Much better on the palate with tastes of soft cheese, cream and slight melon.  Lots of complexity and is very interesting.  

Yuki Otoko "Yeti", Japan, Sake Review

Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

Junmai.  16% ABV.  Polish is 60%.  Light golden in color.  On the nose, it almost has a Chardonnay note along with Umami.  On the palate, umami with a slight bitter almond note in the aftertaste.

Tozai Snow Maiden, Japan, Sake Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

Junmai Nigori.  70% Polish.  14.9% ABV.  This is milky/cloudy (the bottle was intentionally shaken before serving), opaque.  A viscous texture.  On the nose, it has a "rice milk" quality with slight melons.  The palate is more about a honeydew fruit quality.  Very interesting.  Refreshing.  

2021 Domäne Wachau Riesling Terrassen Federspiel, Austria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$10.00USD

Tasted at their Tasting Room in Durnstein (while waiting for my wife to shop).  Glad I stopped.  This is an enjoyable Riesling.  Silvery/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose show yellow grapefruit and some minerality.  Light bodied.  On the palate, nice tart acidity.  Dry.  Grapefruit with underlying minerality.  Long finish.  This drinks easy but has some depth too.  It should drink well for the next ten to twelve years.  On its own or with food, this is a great value.  This would be great with fried appetizers or even popcorn.  

2016 Nikolaihof Riesling Ried Steiner Hund, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

OMG, this is amazing.  Truly outstanding.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is all about minerality.  "Wet stones", minerals with some spice and slight apricots make a complex nose that is both elegant and powerful.  Medium to full bodied.  A creamy yet energetic texture.  Well balanced but not shy on acidity.  On the palate, this is concentrated.  Loads of minerality with slight apricot notes and a hint of spice.  Long finish.  This is still youthful but drinking well now.  Drink over the next twenty to twenty five years.  Fantastic on its own, this will work with most fo

2017 Nikolaihof Riesling Smaragd Vom Stein, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Vom Stein is a sub-site of the Silberbichel vineyard and is a slight incline, sloping east.  Nikolaihof makes beautiful wines from this vineyard.  Smaragd is the highest level of quality in Austrian wines.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with minerals, flint, lemon, slight peach and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, a nice whiff of grapefruits and lemon with underlying minerality.  Wispy tannins.  Lots of depth and complexity.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is close to mature but will still develop for another three to five years and drink well for another

2017 Nikolaihof Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Im Weingebirge, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

From one of the oldest wineries in Europe and one of the oldest vineyards (first mentioned in print in 511AD), this is a beautiful Gruner.  Green/gold/silver in color, clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with slight floral notes, asparagus, apples and spice.  Full bodied.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, this has limes, and slight lemons with underlying acidity.  Long finish.  This is a delicious wine that is showing plenty of depth and complexity.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  It is excellent on its own and will work well with a wide variety of foods.  A nice match would be s

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