Saga @ 70 pine with seabass — 2 years ago
2022/8. This was another somewhat mysterious entry in the saga of my cellar. On opening, it was in just about the oddest, most awkward shape of anything I’ve had in quite some time - hard, spicy and herbal with no fruit or perfume. With lots of air and coaxing it did begin to round into shape, with the last glass feeling like the most together. I don’t know if the cellar is just too cold (trapping wines in a prolonged awkward adolescence) or there is something less benign going on... — 4 years ago
Another instance in the saga for definitive proof that Gassmann is one of the best producers in the Alsace and that his wines can last forever. The nose shows botrytis with notes of honey, dried apricot and sweet candied peach with touches of spice and sweet wildflower. The palate is lush and rich but still somehow restrained. Creamy stone fruit mingles with classic muscat spice and herb going along with just a touch of RS. The finish lingers forever with floral and fruit notes along with acidity that could give it 20 more years. Wow! — 6 years ago
From Saga prefecture. Fruity. A sake bar @ LFK, Honk Kong. — 7 years ago
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. — 6 months ago
What a saga to get this delivered to me in NJ. Worth it. Love Andre Mack. Love his winery. Love this wine. — 4 years ago
The best thing to come out of Iceland since Njal’s Saga. — 5 years ago
@知多繁 1,800 excl tax — 6 years ago
Birthday present from Mac and Maki — 8 years ago
This was all part of our Sake Day 2025 experience. We only tasted 60ish sakes out of an estimated 450, so a small fraction of what was available. While I attempted to rinse the glass with water and stay hydrated it’s difficult to fairly rate in this environment and I use it solely as a time to try a wide variety and interact with the brands. — 9 months ago
Good, correct. Aromatic. Strawberry jam.
Easy going — 3 years ago
Cherry with a hint of spice. Thick aromas (smokey?) With just a hint of floral? Dry and well balanced. — 5 years ago
Rounded and dense, but smooth and crisp. It’s medium dry/sweet. There is a subtle homely sexiness to this. It’s the girl next door. — 6 years ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
1991 vintage. Last tasted 4.22.26 (8.4). It was quite the saga then with a triple-decker self-loathing, regret and sorrow sandwich. This visit...bottle #2 of 3. Opened with a Durand. Cork 25% saturated. Color a ridiculous, majestic purple. Decanted and tasted after 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 45 minutes and one hour. Decent sed vacillating between powdery and Dippin' Dots sized. Gamey, smoky, meaty Côte-Rôtie-styled rhythm guitar nose that definitely rolled over into the flavors. The lead guitar went on an extended rhubarb, cranberry and boysenberry solo. Fascinating wine and will open the last bottle in exactly a month. We can't wait for June. We're on surfari to stay. 5.22.26. — a month ago