Chiyo Shuzo - Kujira 80 Sake 2024

This sake is made with Yamada Nishiki rice polished to only 80% remaining. As with all their 'Kujira' products this is made with rice grown by the brewery. A elegant and refined style lower in alcohol. A hint of aniseed and melon gives way to a fine acidic backbone.

Sake Details:
Junmai • Pure Rice Sake
Muroka • No charcoal filtration
Nama • Unpasteurised
Genshu • Undiluted

Region: Nara

Size: 720ml

NERD NOTES

Chiyo Shuzo is a very small brewery founded in 1873 which moved to its present location in the southwest part of the Nara basin near the Shinomine mountain range in 1902.  Their very small production consists of many, many tiny meigara [brands] which are constantly sought after because of their quality and limited availability.  

The current Toji [Master Brewer] Tetsuya Sakai started his career in the wine industry when he worked for Grace Winery for 5 years along with a 3 month winemaking stint in California.  After marrying into the family who owned Chiyo Shuzo, Sakai-san’s career path changed to becoming a sake brewer.  After 9 years working alongside the previous Toji at Chiyo, Sakai-san eventually took over the role as Toji in 2004 and then in 2007 also became the Kuramoto [Brewery Owner].  In 2000 Sakai-san started creating a range of sake to specifically showcase local regionality. Named after the nearby mountain this range is called Shinomine. Currently Sakai-san manages around 4 hectares of rice paddies where he grows Yamada Nishiki, providing about 10% of their needs each year. The remaining rice is sourced from 26 farmers spread across Nara and nearby regions.

YEAR: 2024

RICE TYPE: Yamada Nishiki

RICE POLISHING: 80%

ALCOHOL: 14%

YEAST STRAIN: #9

SERVE: Chilled