Soto Junmai is an absolute score of qualtiy-for-price. It's clean, lean, crisp, and ever-so refreshing sake from Japan's Niigata region. Niigata is a region with a strong reputation for amazing, abundant, and pristine springwater. And since you can't even begin to make sake in Japan without excellent water, Niigata is all set from the get-go. 

I love this sake. I love it for showing people who are new to sake, or have only had that "bad hot sake in a sushi shop" experience. It's definitely on the light and sessionable side, and isn't one of those meaty, rich, and complex beasts. For much of Niigata-region sake, showing of the water is a main point, and this one drinks just like amazing alcoholic springwater! 

On the nose, it's lightly aromatic of rice and wet river rocks, with a hint of pear. On the palate, the slightly round texture is the first thing that jumps out, and the refreshing finish. Flavor-wise, it's got more of those pear notes, along with some berry and banana notes. But those are restrained and saddled in a slightly mineral and a little more rice-y flavor structure. Rice notes of mochi and dried rice straw predominate.