| Country: | Japan | 
| Region: | Tochigi Prefecture | 
| Winery: | Matsui Shuzo | 
| Organic: | Yes | 
| Vintage: | NV | 
| Bottle Size: | 300 ml | 
	TASTING NOTES: This fresh, subtle Honjozo has a lovely nose of cantaloupe, leek, fresh clay and pear. With just a hint of sweetness, the palate is light bodied with alluring flavors of burnt caramel, chalk and marsh-mallow and a classic Honjozo clean, dry finish.
	The fanciful name "Otoko no Yujyo", represents a feeling for which the sake was made, to honor brotherly love, between comrades.
	PREFECTURE: TOCHIGI
	POLISHING RATIO: 65%
	ALCOHOL: 15.0 - 16.0%
	SMV +/-: +8.0
	ACIDITY: 1.4
	RICE KOJI: HITOGOKOCHI
	RICE KAKE: TOCHIGI 14
	YEAST STRAIN: KYOKAI 901
	FOOD PAIRINGS: Versatile with all foods, Grilled Fish, Paella, Smoked Fish, Fried Fish or Fried Chicken
	CHEESE PAIRINGS: Foggy Morning, Prima Donna, Domaine de Village
Matsui Shuzo is nestled in a pine forest for which it is named, this small family owned brewery uses only local rice for its brewing. The toji, Motohiro Matsui, is also the owner, taking over from his father, running the company and responsible for all the brewing. He studied at Tokyo University and is a member of the Shimotsuke Brewer's Association. The water in Shioyamachi is soft, running through the mountains of pine forest surrounding the brewery for use in all production of sake. Unique to the brewing process is the blending of two yeast strains which is used to obtain a special flavor element within the sake.
	TASTING NOTES: This fresh, subtle Honjozo has a lovely nose of cantaloupe, leek, fresh clay and pear. With just a hint of sweetness, the palate is light bodied with alluring flavors of burnt caramel, chalk and marsh-mallow and a classic Honjozo clean, dry finish.
	The fanciful name "Otoko no Yujyo", represents a feeling for which the sake was made, to honor brotherly love, between comrades.
	PREFECTURE: TOCHIGI
	POLISHING RATIO: 65%
	ALCOHOL: 15.0 - 16.0%
	SMV +/-: +8.0
	ACIDITY: 1.4
	RICE KOJI: HITOGOKOCHI
	RICE KAKE: TOCHIGI 14
	YEAST STRAIN: KYOKAI 901
	FOOD PAIRINGS: Versatile with all foods, Grilled Fish, Paella, Smoked Fish, Fried Fish or Fried Chicken
	CHEESE PAIRINGS: Foggy Morning, Prima Donna, Domaine de Village
This fresh, subtle Honjozo has a lovely nose of cantaloupe, leek, fresh clay and pear. With just a hint of sweetness, the palate is light bodied with alluring flavors of burnt caramel, chalk and marsh-mallow and a classic Honjozo clean, dry finish.
 Versatile with all foods, Grilled Fish, Paella, Smoked Fish, Fried Fish or Fried Chicken. Cheese: Foggy Morning, Prima Donna, Domaine de Village. 
 
	TASTING NOTES:
	This is a classic, delicious Honjozo with crimini mushroom, almonds and lilac aromas. The first sip of this sake is full of stone fruit and minerals complimented by notes of caramel, cocoa and almond and finishes with plenty of umami.
	POLISHING RATIO: 60%
	ALCOHOL: 16-17%
	SMV +/-: +3.0
	ACIDITY: 1.6
	RICE KOJI: JAPANESE RICE 100%
	RICE KAKE: JAPANESE RICE 100%
	YEAST STRAIN: KYOKAI 
	FOOD PAIRINGS: Chinese Food, One Pot dishes like Beef Stew.
	CHEESE PAIRINGS: Foggy Morning, Prima Donna, Domaine de Village
This inviting Honjozo is full of floral, quince, dried mango, anise and hazelnut aromatics. On the palate this sake has medium body and a smooth mouth feel. Forward flavors of persimmon and black pepper with lively acidity gives this sake a beautiful balance.
Pair this with: Salmon teriyaki, chicken meatballs, glazed ham, spinach and bacon salad; served warm with Shabu Shabu
RICE POLISHING RATIO: 60%
ALCOHOL: 15-16%
SWEET/DRY: +5.0
FOOD PAIRINGS: Duck, Grilled salmon, Chicken meatballs, Glazed ham, Chinese, Italian, Cured Meats
CHEESE PAIRINGS: Comte, Mimolette, Pecorino
	Sake Eikun Junmai Ginjo Water Lords 12/720ml is made with Iwai rice.
	
	Eikun sake uses water from a source called "Fusui", rated as one of the top 100 sources of water in Japan. This water source is located just south of the ancient Japanese, and still cultural capital of Japan, Kyoto.
	
	Aromas of macadamia oatmeal cookie, spicy zucchini bread, and vanilla cream with a satiny fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body and a layered, banana custard, jicama, salted whole nut, apple, and radish nuanced finish. A Wonderfully vibrant and flavorful sake.-Beverage Tasting Institute  94 points (Exceptional)
	RATING: 94 points (Exceptional)
	CATEGORY: Junmai Ginjo Sake, Sake
	ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 15.3%
	TASTING LOCATION: In Our Chicago Tasting Room
	TASTING DATE: Dec-05-2012
	WINE ID: 200768
	
	Made with Iwai rice.
	
	Eikun sake uses water from a source called "Fusui", rated as one of the top 100 sources of water in Japan. This water source is located just south of the ancient Japanese, and still cultural capital of Japan, Kyoto.
	
	Rice milling: 60%
Woodsy honeycomb, nutshell, and mushroom patch aromas with a satiny fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body and a delicate savory mushroom stock, chestnut, and golden beet driven finish. A fine choice for tempura. 91 Points -Beverage Tasting Institute
	RATING: 91 points (Exceptional)
	CATEGORY: Junmai Ginjo Sake, Sake
	ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 15.4%
	TASTING LOCATION: In Our Chicago Tasting Room
	TASTING DATE: Dec-05-2012
	WINE ID: 200767
Vintners Dennis O’Neil and Steph Martin began development of Checkerboard Vineyards in 1999 and retained winemaker Martha McClellan to create a portfolio of wines reflecting the mountainside. The estate includes four vineyard sites of different elevation, exposure and soil composition, providing the foundation for a portfolio that includes Checkerboard Aurora Vineyard, Checkerboard Coyote Ridge Vineyard, Checkerboard Nash Creek Vineyard, Checkerboard Kings Row, Checkerboard Sauvignon Blanc, and Checkerboard Rose. Grapes are harvested at dawn in micro-lots and delivered steps away to the winery where clusters are sorted, discarding any blemished ones. Individual berries are hand-selected for vinification and transferred for fermentation, by hand, to Taransaud wooden tanks, stainless tanks, and individual wooden barrels.
Farming is based on long-term sustainability and includes water conservation and monitoring, permanent cover crops planted in alternating rows, and the use of entomology for pest control and the development of soils with good organic matter and microbiology. Checkerboard Vineyards is a member of Fish Friendly Farming which promotes environmentally-friendly land practices and water quality management. Aurora Vineyard is located in a small valley midway up Diamond Mountain and on a large knoll at an elevation of 1,200 feet. The knoll bulges outward, giving the vineyard full Southern exposure and open light from the East and West and protection from Napa Valley’s summer fog. Six acres are planted in the knoll’s rich, volcanic soils that are riddled with basalt cobble in a loamy red clay. The remaining six acres are planted in a deep gravely mix of volcanic ash and chips of decomposed Rhyolite that were washed down from the steep, rocky crags of Diamond Mountain above.
 There's a fresh, sweet aroma to the 2016 Checkerboard Aurora Vineyard that builds excitement and anticipation for what's to come. On approach, the palate is juicy and expansive and explodes with flavors of blackberry, mulberry, dark cherry, caramel, leaf tobacco and green olive. The wine continues with a voluptuousness that's linear and constant yet lifted by natural acidity. The finish is showy, long and lingering with finely polished tannins. An exceptional vintage. 
Trione Pinot Noir River Road Ranch is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
River Road Ranch encompasses 115 acres in the heart of the Russian River Valley appellation. Located on the western bench of the Santa Rosa Plain, the vineyard thrives in well-drained soils. The region's fog-cooled nights are ideal for this varietal.
This Pinot Noir presents aromas of dark cherry, exotic spice, green tea and a slight earthiness we call forest floor. The wine is silky on the palate, beautifully balanced, with a long finish. The Pinot Noir's firm structure suggests excellent aging potential, 10-15 years.
We made this Pinot Noir in small lots, using traditional techniques —fermenting in open-top tanks and hand-plunging the caps during primary fermentation. To accentuate the outstanding fruit flavors, we added 20% whole clusters to the each fermenter. The Pinot Noir aged twelve months in French oak barrels (40% new) from coopers Meyrieux Traditional House and Remond.