Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Takara — Mio Sparkling Sake — Japan 🇯🇵

Overview
A lightly sparkling sake crafted in a modern, approachable style, designed to highlight freshness, gentle sweetness, and aromatic lift. With a low 5% ABV, Mio offers a soft, easygoing expression that bridges the gap between traditional sake and sparkling wine.

Aromas & Flavors
Delicate notes of white peach, pear, melon, and subtle floral tones, with a light rice-driven sweetness and clean aromatic profile.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied with fine, soft bubbles and a smooth, off-dry texture. The low alcohol and gentle effervescence create a mellow, refreshing feel with a clean, easy finish.

Food Pairings
Sushi, sashimi, tempura, light appetizers, or as an aperitif. Particularly effective at opening a meal.

Verdict
An approachable and enjoyable sparkling sake that delivers freshness, softness, and aromatic charm. Ideal as a light, food-friendly starter.

🍶 Did You Know?
Sparkling sake like Mio is often crafted with lower alcohol and slight residual sugar, making it more approachable and similar in feel to lightly sparkling wines such as Moscato d’Asti.

🍷 Personal Pick
Completely out of my comfort zone, and a pleasant surprise. It set the tone perfectly for a Japanese meal, offering a soft, aromatic, and refreshing start before transitioning into white wines.
— 2 months ago

Norman

9.1

Always nice but you can tell the difference from the 3yr and the 8yr. — 5 months ago

Mark Wadley

9.4

Fruity bright. Made in a daiquiri like cocktail. — 2 years ago

with Karina

Mike Obley

9.4

Lovely PN drinking at peak — a month ago

Norman

9.0

This is just ok. I’m not rating it anywhere near where others have. Aromatics are light. Light on sweetness and also power. It fades fast and the weight on the power is light too. Daishichi “Minowamon” (大七 箕輪門)


Sake type: Junmai Daiginjo (純米大吟醸 = no added distilled alcohol, daiginjo-grade polish)
Starter method: Kimoto (生酛 = traditional, naturally built lactic acidity; tends to add depth and structure) 
Rice: Yamada Nishiki (the gold seal indicates, and it’s the standard spec for Minowamon) 
Polish ratio: 50% using Daishichi’s “super-flat” polishing
ABV: 15% (back label) 
Brewery / Place: Daishichi Sake Brewery, Fukushima (Nihonmatsu) — 4 months ago

Louis Martin

9.3

Fresh, crisp, smooth and refreshing, citrus flavors, fruity sweet finish. — 6 months ago

Norman

9.4

From “magnum”. Not sure what you call these for sake. — 3 years ago

Liu Yuezhang

9.2

Fruitful. NY. — 2 months ago

Norman

9.8

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. — 5 months ago

Norman

9.3

Jikon Tokubetsu 60% polish 2025-05 light, crisp, clean. Very nice. — 9 months ago