Chocolate Nigori

Chocolate Nigori is a 300ml sake from Esplanda in Massachusetts, made in the American craft-sake tradition. Nigori means the sake is coarsely filtered and left cloudy, so it carries a haze of fine rice sediment. That gives it a fuller, creamier texture than a clear, polished sake. The name points to a chocolate character, so expect cocoa-leaning aromas layered over the soft, lightly sweet rice base that nigori usually has. Exact sweetness, alcohol level and the way the chocolate note is built are not listed for this bottle. Treat those as things to find out on the first pour, not as measured specs. Styles like this usually show a round, slightly viscous body, low acidity and no tannin, since sake has no grape skins or oak. Flavors tend toward steamed rice, cream and a gentle sweetness, with the chocolate note sitting in the middle or on the finish. Because the sediment settles, turn the bottle upside down a few times, gently, before opening. That redistributes the rice solids so the first glass and the last taste the same. Serve it well chilled, around 40 to 45°F, which keeps the sweetness tidy and the texture lively. Warming a nigori is not usually recommended, since heat flattens the delicate aroma and can make a sweet style heavy. No decanting is needed. A small wine glass or a stemmed white-wine glass works well for the aroma, and a small ceramic cup or tumbler is a good traditional choice. The 300ml size is about two to three modest servings, which suits sharing at the table or finishing within a day or two once opened. Keep the opened bottle refrigerated. For food, the sweetness and creamy texture work as a dessert pairing. Try it with fresh strawberries or raspberries, a plain cheesecake, vanilla ice cream, or a small plate of dark chocolate pieces. It can also cool the heat of mildly spicy dishes, such as a Thai curry or Korean fried chicken, much as an off-dry white would. Nigori sake is made to be drunk young and fresh, not cellared. Open it soon, and store the bottle cold and upright until then.