Pale silvery/yellow in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is interesting with pineapple and slight mint.  Very smooth.  Slight malt note.  On the palate, this is peppery with alcohol on the finish.  Very easy to drink but some substance here, too.  300ml.

Clear in color, this looks like water.  The nose is light but there is some slight pine and a touch of tangerine.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, Umami and alcohol (but restrained).  This is very deep and complex.  It comes off as simple but really is intriguing.  Smooth finish.  300ML

Very interesting and different.  5.5% abv.  Pale gold/silver/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cucumbers, peach and orange cream soda.  On the palate, more like orange creamsicle.  Slightly sweet.  Nice fizz.  Lower acidity.  Drinks like soda pop - easy.  This is enjoyable and fun.  300ML.

The name is derived from a local legend that mysterious lights appeared on Mt. Kirin in the past. Locals believed that the lights are paper lanterns carried in the fox-bride procession. The event is celebrated in Niigata every year at the fox-bride festival.  Vary, very pale silver/yellow in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a slightly floral quality to it along with cashews.  Viscous/oily texture.  On the palate, firm umami notes along with a bit of nuttiness and slight mint on the finish.  Very smooth.  No heat.  

Very clear in color with just a touch of yellow.  The nose is faint with slight banana and umami notes.  Slick, oily texture.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, this is dry with umami notes (truffles?).  Slight pineapples and alcohol.  Finishes dry with umami.  Very enjoyable.  300ML

This is brewed in Hiroshima, by one of Japan's only female brewery owners and Tojis.  Known for remarkably soft water that requires expert skill to use in sake production.  It has a diluted silvery/gold appearance, clear and bright.  The nose has lemons and pine and with air a bit of powdered sugar notes.  Viscous texture.  On the palate, this is chalky and clean with light citrus (lemons?).  The finish seems a bit soapy with an herbal notes.  Some warmth.  300ML

100% Yamadanishiki rice grown in Hyogo Prefecture.  Polished to 60%.  Very pale, silvery-gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is light with a yeasty note with slight banana.  On the palate, juicy fruit gum with slight minty note.  Dry finish with umami and a slight bitter note.  Very interesting and tasty.  300ML bottle.

One of the best Syrahs being made anywhere. Purple in color with a slight ruby hue, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight burnt rubber, black olives, black pepper and slight bacon fat.  Full bodied.  Velvety texture.  Juicy acidity.  On the palate, lots of black raspberry fruit with some black olive notes and char.  Deep and complex.  Light tannins.  Long finish.  This is just getting near maturity.  It drinks great on its own and would work well with beef stew or chili.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

Nice to try this from a "lesser" vintage but with some nice age on it.  It is in a very good place right now.  It is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, tobacco and a slight herbal notes.  Also a but of spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis with underlying char.  Lots of depth.  Nice finish.  This won't get better but it is drinking very nicely and should continue for another eight to twelve years.  It works on its own but worked great with mushroom ravioli.  A great example of great

This is made by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, one of the top winemakers in the world. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is huge with cassis, cedar, baking spice, anise and char. Full bodied. Almost seamless texture. Juicy acidity. On the palate, loads of cassis with nice minerality and underlying char. Long finish. This is delicious. This is still quite young and will mature and probably get even better. Drink over the next twenty years. Great on its own, this will work with bigger meat dishes or even roasted veggies especially root vegetables.