Shichiken ‘Alain Ducasse’ Sparkling Sake 720ml

In very close collaboration with Alain Ducasse and Gerard Margeon, Shichiken has crafted this exceptional sparkling sake. Alain Ducasse Sparkling Sake was inspired by Alain Ducasse’s terroir, which is the Mediterranean Sea.

On entering the glass, it begins to bloom with a pronounced floral and fruity nose of wild strawberry, aniseed and yoghurt. It is charming, silky-smooth, lively and tangy with a hint of sweetness that never cloys. It achieves an elegant complexity by interweaving traditional and modern elements just like the French maestro from which it draws its inspiration. A slight sweetness and bitterness are cleaned away by a short finish. The essence of sake transformed through a second in-bottle fermentation into the perfect toast that accentuates but doesn’t steal the limelight from the food you pair with it.

The result is brilliant, Alain Ducasse Sparkling Sake is as clear as the famous water from its home region, Yamanashi. The nose is complex, releasing three different aromas that express themselves in three stages. The top note is lily of the valley flowers, followed by a fruity, more complex middle note of peach-melon vine and white cherry. The third note is intense, with a touch of cardamom and chilli. This is a sparkling sake that quenches thirst nicely. The bubbles are fine, impressive and dynamic, with a silky yet energetic mouthfeel. A bouquet of white cherries emanates as the bubbles burst, accompanied by the bitter-sweet ripples of barrel maturation, all leading to a calm and pleasant finish.