Aroma of Japanese Sake
Have you ever wondered about classifying the flavors and aromas of sake wines? While many wine varieties typically have a very regimented palette, there’s something quite unique about sake in that it’s exceptionally versatile and comes in many different flavors and aromas. This gives every bottle a unique appeal and could be well worth considering as part of your decision for the ideal type of wine.
While many wine varieties have a set flavor or aroma, sake wines actually come in a wide array of different palettes – and this can influence the optimal choice for your own enjoyment. Fortunately, this can also make finding a variety that’s right for you, with many sake wines falling on a relatively easy-to-understand spectrum of flavor and aroma.
Clean vs. Rich Flavors
While the aroma is an important factor in any wine-buying decision, chances are, most people will hold more focus on the flavor. This is where sake wines can have a particularly noticeable contrast between rich, bold, and complex wines and clean, lighter, and smoother flavors.
Rich sake wines include Junmai Ginjo Nama and most aged sakes and feature complex flavors and typically also have richer aromas. Their texture is usually thicker and sweeter, with a medium-full body and strong dried fruits or spice flavors. However, some sake wines with a more moderate aroma may have a more savory appeal, such as Junmai, Junmai Ginjo, and Kimoto-type sake wines.
In terms of clean sake wines, Dai-ginjo, traditional Ginjo, Honjo-zo, fresh sake wines, and Tanrei-Karakuchi may all be popular options. These are almost always light-bodied or smooth and come in both sweet and dry varieties. It’s also common for clean sake wines to have floral or lightly fresh fruity aromas.
Moderate vs. Fragrant Aromas
In addition to the contrast between clean and rich flavors, there’s also a substantial difference between aromas – as we’ve already hinted at. There’s a strong contrast between the fragrant aromas typical of Hanayaka wines, for example, compared to the more moderate and gentle aromas of Odayaka, which is typically fresh and clean. The majority of fragrant aromas, for example, are generally quite fruity and floral; contrastingly, the moderate aromas may have
Final Thoughts
Generally speaking, sake wines are incredibly rich and fragrant; however, some varieties may be a little different with a cleaner and more moderate finish. For example, a traditional Tanrei or Odayaka may be a somewhat milder variety, while Houjun and Hanayaka sake wines are often more flavorsome and bold. This helps contribute to the overall diversity and variety of sake wines and may be worth considering to ensure you’ve chosen a variety that’s best matched to your tastes and palette.