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. — 7 days ago

Paul Richardson

9.0

Delicate floral and plum notes, followed by a wonderful warmth (17.5% abv!). Perfect for a night in of plotting and marking. — 7 years ago

Lauren Vance

Buyer Whole Foods Market Oakland

9.2

Oh yeah. Clean, bright, incredibly smooth. Honeysuckle + cantaloupe combines with fresh spring water — 10 years ago

Jamie Lauder

9.1

Taiheizan Junmai Kimoto.
White nougat, ripe pear, almonds and dark Macintosh apples.
Crisp and vivid minerality with a bold firm finish. 15% ABV. Made with local spring water.
.
The brother to this sake is Junmai Kimoto Shirakami.
The same rice and yeasts are used but the water is trucked from Shirakami mountain range 60 kilometres north of the kura.
Fresh cut grass on the nose. Crisp apple, citrus, grassy and snappy with a round, clean finish. 17% ABV.
Amazing how a water source can greatly affect flavour profile. — 3 years ago

Rajiv Patnam

9.0

Really blossoms as you drink and taste it. Starts off like a thicker very clean spring water then opens up into an earthy but bright umami finish. — 7 years ago

Amritha Surath

9.0

Violets, nuts and clean like spring water.. spring in a shot glass! — 8 years ago

Carter White

9.6

Yas! Pure mountain spring water. — 4 years ago

Shanti H

9.8

Fruity and fresh — 5 years ago

Allison Lyzenga

9.5

Clear water white; medium plus intensity aromas of fresh honeydew melon, burnt sugar, rose water, cucumber water, subtle rice porridge, spring water; off dry, medium acid, high alcohol, medium plus body, medium plus intensity flavors of fresh honeydew melon, cucumber water, burnt sugar, mineral water; long finish, well integrated and concentrated, rich and elegant, outstanding — 7 years ago

Aileen Wee

9.0

Nice smooth, lightly sweet after taste lingers in your mouth. So pure as if you can taste the superior rice quality and spring water clarity. — 11 years ago