Kara brought. Very good — 4 years ago
A great keepsake bottle for memories of a wonderful moment - @Jillian Varner’s brother got engaged and we celebrated with this. The juice inside is memorable as well. Melon, citrus, raspberries and strawberry. Puckering but not sour, slight toastiness too. Gorgeous, fun, yummy. — 5 years ago
Dry, yeasty, full bodied, delicious! — 6 years ago
Gentle, warm, loving and smooth taste — the perfect metaphor for my beautiful wife on a shelter-in-place Mother’s Day. — 6 years ago
Costco - $15 - Birthday bottle from Kara. Very good Cabernet. Taste more like a Zinfandel. Oaky with dark fruity taste. Will buy again. — 7 years ago
Banshu Ikkon “Chō-kara” Junmai, i.e., “Super-Dry”
Brewery: 山陽盃酒造株式会社 (Sanyōhai Shuzō), Shisō, Hyōgo
Rice: 兵庫北錦 100% (Hyōgo Kitanishiki)
Polish: 60% remaining
SMV (nihonshu-do): +10 (very dry)
ABV: 15%
Volume: 720 ml
Bottled: 2025-06
Style notes from the back label: soft umami with clarity and a very crisp finish; versatile across temperatures.
What to expect in the glass
• Aromatics are restrained. Think steamed rice, faint grain, maybe a hint of dried apple rather than ginjō fruit.
• Palate is lean and highly dry with a quick, clean cut. The +10 SMV puts it on the bone-dry end of the spectrum.
• Body is light to mid. Not a plush or glycerol style. If served too cold it can read “thin” and a touch bitter on the back end.
It’s dry for sure. Crisp and on the edge of bitter/sharp. The body is light and mouthfeel borders on thin but better than those others I called thin, watery and bitter. I liked this. Not staying loved but it was good and did go went with food. Has a bit of a finish that I couldn’t quite place but is what gave it the bitterness. It’s not one that just disappears. — 10 months ago
Sixth and final round of tasting and we all went 0-3 on the reds. This one was so maddeningly obvious. The dill!
Deep ruby color that is thick as tar, there is an enormous amount of vanilla and jammy over-ripened black fruit. Lacking some of the floral notes I’d expect in. Reserva, it makes up for it with eucalyptus and leather, a touch of mint, and plenty of balsamic. There’s also an earthy mushroom thing happening. Moderate tannins, low acids. Plenty of alcohol.
How did we fail here @Jillian Varner? — 3 years ago
Wow. Sooo good. First time having a Pinot noir and really liked it. Much better after breathing for about 20 mins. Verve gift from Jillian. 😊 — 5 years ago
Verve gift from Jillian. Smooth, dark, and complex. Like it better on day 2 than when I first opened it. — 5 years ago
I’ve stayed away from Zinfandel because whatever it is that they’re doing with it nowadays just isn’t for me. But this? This producer? Yeah it’s different. A somewhat subdued purple with a crimson rim. Fruit and spice on the nose with blue and black berries along with some black pepper. This nose just never stops. And you don’t want it to. Just the faintest hint of forest floor. How solid of a Zin is this? Even clocking in at 14.9, it’s never overbearing or anything approaching too hot. Wonderful balance and acidity, I can’t stop smelling it though, it’s glorious. Cranberry and boysenberry prevalent on the palette but there’s also with the right amount of spice. This is a beautiful wine and has single handedly restored my faith in Zinfandel. Mike and Kara Dunn make the single best Petite Sirah you will probably ever drink and they’re expanding. Get on board. — 6 years ago
With Kara in Kent. Fruity. I liked it — 7 years ago
Needed a bit of time to open up, but delicious. Beautiful funk! Love Pinots that aren’t afraid to get dirty! Love SA! — 3 years ago
Jake and Kara brought. — 4 years ago
Another delightful Oregon PN — 5 years ago
Love this one. Great price too. Kara enjoyed too. — 6 years ago
Tasty for my bday 2019 w grant, kara, & Grace at steak & vine in lagrange — 7 years ago
Sebastien Truchon
- Kara Tara - South Africa. Comme le Ciprea mais un petit peu mieux. — 2 months ago