AZUMAICHI Junmai Ginjo 'Nero' / 東一 純米吟醸 Nero
Updated: May 1, 2024
AZUMAICHI Nero is the pioneer of the” low alcohol sake” brewed by many sake breweries in recent years. In keeping with modern dining styles, it has been brewed using a unique method that brings out the rich flavor of Yamada Nishiki rice, while keeping the alcohol content to the same level as wine. It has a calm tropical fruit aroma, and the mellow taste and the acidity that tightens it match perfectly. It pioneered a new category of sake that no one believed in, and now it has become a popular product that many breweries use as a model.
DATA
Rice：Yamadanishiki
Rice milling : milled to 49%
ABV : 13%
TYPE
Aroma : Gentle
Taste : Medium Light bodied
Serving temperature：Chilled
Gochoda Shuzo
Gochoda Shuzo, is located just a 20-minute drive away from the Ureshino hot spring district, nestled near the serene Shiota River. The brewery separated from the adjacent Seto Shuzo in 1922. Aiming to produce the best sake in East Asia, and named the sake "Azumaichi" (using characters that mean "East" and "one"). The ideals and beliefs of Gochoda Shuzo revolve around the relentless pursuit of quality and the continual advancement of traditional sake-making techniques, placing a strong emphasis on utilizing self-cultivated sake rice.
Sake Brewing Starts from Rice
Recently, it has become increasingly common for sake breweries to cultivate their own rice. However, Gochoda Shuzo have been cultivating their premium Yamada Nishiki rice since 1988. At that time, it was difficult to obtain Yamada Nishiki in Saga Prefecture, so through trial and error, a group of rice cultivators consisting primarily of sake brewers learned techniques for raising seedlings and managing water and fertilizer.
Gochoda Shuzo handle almost everything in-house, from milling the rice using their machines and building custom square wooden rice steamers to cultivating own strains of yeast. The outcome is a line of full-bodied sake bursting with flavor, showcasing its Kyushu roots while also revealing remarkable subtlety.
Well-balanced flavor profile of the five tastes
Azumaichi is a sake that represents the rich umami of rice. Furthermore, it strikes a harmonious balance among the five key sake flavors: sweetness, acidity, bitterness, astringency, and umami. This balance makes it an excellent companion for a wide range of dishes, making it a delightful choice to enjoy with meals.