Aramasa Shuzou
Cosmos Junmai Ginjô Genshu
Japan
Aramasa strikes again! Although I did prefer the 2020 Lapis we drank this with, the 2021 Cosmos was no slouch. It had all the trademark Aramasa rawness and sapidity, as well as the textural weight and acidity I love. The Cosmos was rounder, more umami, more grain-focused, woodier, less exotic with its fruit notes, and had a perceivable bitterness. It was almost like a darker version of the Lapis to me. Put this altogether and the usual gone-before-you-know-it event ensued.
Aramasa strikes again! Although I did prefer the 2020 Lapis we drank this with, the 2021 Cosmos was no slouch. It had all the trademark Aramasa rawness and sapidity, as well as the textural weight and acidity I love. The Cosmos was rounder, more umami, more grain-focused, woodier, less exotic with its fruit notes, and had a perceivable bitterness. It was almost like a darker version of the Lapis to me. Put this altogether and the usual gone-before-you-know-it event ensued.
Mar 8th, 2023Aramasa Cosmos 2017. Aramasa spins rice into a Godly liquid - quite unlike any other brewery. I've expressed my love for this brewery many times before, and I'm sure this won't be the last. Everything I've drunk from Aramasa moves the heart and only they could have pulled off being the beverage of the afternoon amongst a Keller and Bindi.
Rice wine kabi. Pours and looks like mineral water, but sports the texture of engine oil in the palate. There's a certain roundness and softness to the saké, but without any undue weight. So elegant and pure. Impeccable balance of sweetness and acidity.
NB: Made using Karyoshinko rice, the rice Aramasa is most known for. Junmai Ginjo, 40% polishing rate. Can't read Japanese, but Google Translate seems to indicate that there was some wood used - Hmmm. Tasting notes seem to use the word smooth, which I agree. Lots of sake lovers claim this to be the best of Aramasa's colour series. Had the Viridian, Lapiz Lazuli, and now this one - not sure which I'd call best. They were all so delicious, granted I only tasted them once. The Viridian has the advantage of totally changing my perception on saké. Would love the opportunity of tasting the series in a horizontal, and even more so in a vertical.
Aramasa Cosmos 2017. Aramasa spins rice into a Godly liquid - quite unlike any other brewery. I've expressed my love for this brewery many times before, and I'm sure this won't be the last. Everything I've drunk from Aramasa moves the heart and only they could have pulled off being the beverage of the afternoon amongst a Keller and Bindi.
Rice wine kabi. Pours and looks like mineral water, but sports the texture of engine oil in the palate. There's a certain roundness and softness to the saké, but without any undue weight. So elegant and pure. Impeccable balance of sweetness and acidity.
NB: Made using Karyoshinko rice, the rice Aramasa is most known for. Junmai Ginjo, 40% polishing rate. Can't read Japanese, but Google Translate seems to indicate that there was some wood used - Hmmm. Tasting notes seem to use the word smooth, which I agree. Lots of sake lovers claim this to be the best of Aramasa's colour series. Had the Viridian, Lapiz Lazuli, and now this one - not sure which I'd call best. They were all so delicious, granted I only tasted them once. The Viridian has the advantage of totally changing my perception on saké. Would love the opportunity of tasting the series in a horizontal, and even more so in a vertical.
