Norman

9.4

Ohmine 3 Grain Aiyama — 94/100

Brewery: Ohmine Shuzo (大嶺酒造), Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Classification: Junmai Daiginjo specification
Rice: Aiyama (愛山)
Rice polishing: 50%
ABV: 15%
SMV: Not published
Acidity: Not published
Water: Benten spring water, Akiyoshidai limestone plateau
Bottle: 720 ml
Importer: Sake Suki, Bridgeport, Pennsylvania
Purchase: True Sake, $68
Bottling date: Unknown

Ohmine reopened in 2010 after a 50-year hiatus. Its soft spring water and minimalist brewing approach produce expressive, fruit-forward sake. Aiyama is prized for its ability to produce rich, rounded textures and pronounced fruit character.

My tasting notes: I may have found another rice varietal I really like besides Yamada Nishiki. Not as crisp or sharply delineated, but round, smooth and lush. Sweet with a distinct honeydew melon note. Very light effervescence with a subtle carbonic bitterness that adds some balance. Consistent with my previous tasting. Excellent sake, though probably better before dinner than with delicate sushi. 94 points. — 9 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

7/17 Disgorgment, and 2010 based. Always a favorite of mine, and with some bottle age it takes on even further levels of unmatched complexity, layers, depth and aromatics synonymous with Selosse. Largillier is a wine I just can’t stay away from. — 5 years ago

Paco Suro

9.3

Outstanding. #sierrafoothills #doloresoutpost #wineclub #thetrustfall — 5 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.4

This is a wine that a buddy of mine and I had made at Crushpad. This is the To-Kalon Vineyard. Absolutely gorgeous. — 6 years ago

LM Segal

9.4

Stony black fruit on the nose preceded dark cherry extract, mine rally and so structured with dark vanilla oak. Shocking how young this drank, the layers of red fruit and spice really only came out on the last delicious sips... — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.6

Though not the same as it was pre-COVID -19, a handful of us were able to gather (while keeping our distance) to celebrate being back together and opened some fun wines to share. Wine is always better with good company.

The ‘04 has always been a favorite of mine, but this is really close. Aromatically, it is decadent and seductive. Sweet and ripe red, blue and black fruits dipped in fondue chocolate, with graham cracker and espresso, but also a charcoal/graphite like mineral note. It is silky on the palate with waves of more chocolate dipped fruits, nutmeg, Mexican vanilla and dust all wrapped in a rich profile that is still elegant and balanced. Gorgeous wine courtesy of @joe leatherwood . — 6 years ago

with joe, Dan and 2 others

Chris England

9.7

I lost my virginity 💗 I’ve been looking for this wine for soooo long so when I found this 2015 top vintage @ £135 I thought I’ll take one for the community 😁 Drinking amazingly already 👍

📍 Montevertine Le Pergole Torte 2015

🐮 Paired with Mrs Es Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pud w/ Dauphinoise Potato 😍

🏵 97-98 points 👏

🍇 Sangiovese

🍷 Deep dark ruby

👃 Beautifully elegant floral morello & red cherry through soft smoked oak w/ subtle black berry fruits, raspberry chocolate, light herb & fine mineral - Black Forest gateaux 😋

👄 Mee body of rich creamy velvet deep cherry, raspberry & cocoa w/ dark berry & mineral in perfect harmony

🎯 Med+ slight mineral dry dark, red cherry & blackcurrant explosion of balanced joy

🍒 Talking of cherry - I’ve popped mine 🤣
— 8 years ago

Donald Williams

9.4

Lovely white wine. Vastly underrated. — 3 months ago

with Bonnie

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

2008 a good to very good vintage depending on the producer and region.

I’ve had the 2008 a few years ago. The bottle from my collection, better. This one is not in decline, just not as enjoyable. Still shows a fair amount of earthiness where the bottle from my collection did not. In fairness, I gave mine a good decant and this bottle had been open but not decanted.

Emirates Lounge Dubai with Wagyu filet. — a year ago

Sylvain Rhainds

9.2

2001
Montrose est tout simplement toujours magnifique. Quel cru remarquable. Un des plus Bordeaux a boire....rien de moins. Jamais déçu — 5 years ago

Hamza

9.4

The rock is primal. Earth elemental with fresh cut. Hint of pineapple and triumphant tannins coat your tongue with flavor. Minerals like a mine shaft. — 6 years ago

Nicolas Duchesneau

9.0

Aucune attente, Comme tout le monde sait, Ridge fait d’excellent produits. Au nez et en bouche c’est le cuir, le cedre, c’est un peu epicé, le bois est bien intégré, belle finale bien digeste. Rien à voir avec certain zin confituré et sucré, ca semble bien vieillir. Malheureusement avec les augmentations de prix de leurs zin, il fortement improbable que je me procure d’autres bouteilles à la SAQ. — 6 years ago

Ted

9.4

Much different from last nights cuvée. Raspberry chocolate. Quickly becoming a favorite winemaker of mine. — 6 years ago

with Jeni

Phil Mikhaylov

9.3

This wine is a Banger. Napoleons favorite and mine as well — 7 years ago

Kurt Schuster

8.9

Everybody seems to have glowing opinions of this, but mine was just a good wine and all the complexity in depth that I’m hearing about here I just didn’t get. A very good balance of strong flavors drank it across three days, dark pepper, and tobacco notes and ripe fruit and I will say without any overwhelming attendance. The structure was just incredible. Very good wine, maybe I’m just different than the other reviewers.  — 6 months ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.4

Santa Barbera Chardonnay is really becoming a favourite of mine. The Pinot from SB seems to get all the attention here in Sweden but the Chardonnay is outperforming the Pinot by a mile. Very bright and well balanced. Seashell, pear, honey, hezelnuts, jasmin, tiger balm. — 4 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.1

Hazy straw. Wonderful nose of lemon rind m, straw, and menthol. Full bodied palate of verbena, pear, citrus, birch, and a host others in layer upon layer. Firm acidity from entry to the slight mineral flintiness on the finish. Rich seafood or poultry dishes will shine especially well. I’m having mine with scallops and my drinking partner with Parmesan encrusted chicken. Drink now through 2024. — 5 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.5

Another favorite on mine! Color - a purplish red magenta. Nose - Blue fruit, crushed rock and vanilla burst in scent from the glass—a stewed meat, spice, cedar menthol lingers. Taste - dark blueberry fruit with a dark tart cherry following. A silky feel as it coats the mouth—cream brûlée notes float giving the wine a subtle sweetness. At the mid-pallet pepper dry herbs and cedar-spice give it a long dry finish. A great evening to celebrate national wine and cheese day—yum yum. — 6 years ago

with Karin and Jill

Barry Ballan

9.0

Great wine for a fun birthday — 7 years ago

with Shelli

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

@Plate & Bottle Summer Dinner.

Main Course, Beef Skirt Steak, Roasted Tomato, Artichoke, Potato Mousseline. Steak has mash potato, roasted tomato relish, lemony artichoke purée with a smokey component.

Hedy is an amazingly, creative Chef.

Superb food & the wine pairing doesn’t suck as a friend of mine is famous for saying.

Photos of the evening at our friends Jeff & Hedy.

— 7 years ago