Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Takara — Mio Sparkling Sake — Japan 🇯🇵

Overview
A lightly sparkling sake crafted in a modern, approachable style, designed to highlight freshness, gentle sweetness, and aromatic lift. With a low 5% ABV, Mio offers a soft, easygoing expression that bridges the gap between traditional sake and sparkling wine.

Aromas & Flavors
Delicate notes of white peach, pear, melon, and subtle floral tones, with a light rice-driven sweetness and clean aromatic profile.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied with fine, soft bubbles and a smooth, off-dry texture. The low alcohol and gentle effervescence create a mellow, refreshing feel with a clean, easy finish.

Food Pairings
Sushi, sashimi, tempura, light appetizers, or as an aperitif. Particularly effective at opening a meal.

Verdict
An approachable and enjoyable sparkling sake that delivers freshness, softness, and aromatic charm. Ideal as a light, food-friendly starter.

🍶 Did You Know?
Sparkling sake like Mio is often crafted with lower alcohol and slight residual sugar, making it more approachable and similar in feel to lightly sparkling wines such as Moscato d’Asti.

🍷 Personal Pick
Completely out of my comfort zone, and a pleasant surprise. It set the tone perfectly for a Japanese meal, offering a soft, aromatic, and refreshing start before transitioning into white wines.
— 13 days ago

Norman

9.8

Name: 鍋島 大吟醸（Nabeshima Daiginjo） 
• Sake type: Daiginjo（大吟醸, highly polished; typically includes a small addition of distilled alcohol
• Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo, Grade A / specially designated) 
• Polish ratio: 35% 
• ABV: 17% 
• SMV: +5 (dry-leaning) 
• Acidity: 1.7 
• Brewery: 富久千代酒造 (Fukuchiyo Shuzo)
• Prefecture: Saga 
• Award note: cited as IWC Trophy Champion / flagship in at least one detailed retailer profile 
• Bottling date + lot: 2025.10, LOT 5732

This is built like a flagship Daiginjo: precision polish (35%), dry-leaning structure (SMV +5), and higher ABV that gives it torque and length rather than airy fade. The common lane is melon and tropical fruit on the nose, then a palate that feels tight, glossy, and more structured than most fruity Daiginjo, finishing clean but not thin.
Had this one again. Pricing was very fair compared to retail. This was my favorite of the two - it is silky smooth with a bit of weight on the palate. Aromatics are there and it doesn’t read sweet on the nose or flavor. Little bit of melon and super balanced. This is a great bottle and its freshness shines though it. Really like. — 4 months ago

Roberto Carli

9.2

It leads with black olives, then a touch of brett but pleasant, purple flowers, and a good amount of stony minerality. Very quintessential Syrah. A little bit of bacon fat and smoke. On the palate the body is light. Tannins are moderate and fine and it brightens up the profile with good acidity even though the finish is not very long. It's very clear what they're trying to do and they're achieving it here. — 8 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with splashes of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec all SLD estate fruit, deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, oak and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, cherry and currants with tobacco and herb spice. Fine smooth tannins, approachable, long finish ending with fruit, oak, spice and herb mineral character. Nice! — 3 months ago

Jamie Lauder

9.2

2022 vintage.
Painted Rock has always been one of the best producers in British Columbia.
Aromas of deep black fruit black flowers and perfumed.
Rich and juicy. Black berries, spicy raspberries and so smooth on the finish. — 4 months ago

Andrew Formi

9.2

Jack! 2018 — 9 months ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.2

Absolutely delicious other than a developing clove note throwing me off a little. Nose and palate were phenomenal right out of the bottle. — a month ago

Liu Yuezhang

9.2

Fruitful. NY. — 16 days ago

Norman

9.1

Always nice but you can tell the difference from the 3yr and the 8yr. — 4 months ago

Rob van Kalmthout

9.2

First time I really liked a sake. Paired with ceviche with basil and small sprouts. Loved the plummy smell with a distant sweetness — 7 months ago