Uji, Inooka region, best Uji gyokuro

[Oni]

I recently got a newsletter from http://www.maiko.ne.jp, they are selling an award winning gyokuro from a teamaker in Uji who has plantation in the Inooka region, as I read it is an 800 m tall hill, it is known to be the best production region for gyokuro, and hibiki-an`s pinacle gyokuro is from the same region, I wonder if somebody from us would try, the price is 135 $ for 50 grams, so it is in the same price as their yamashita masters top gyokuro around 270 for 100 grams, that is by far more expenceive than anything I have seen before, even Marukyu Koyamaen`s top cost half of this price 135 $ for 100 grams.
I want to ask gyokuro drinkers if somebody tried hibiki-an`s pinacle gyokuro, that is around 100 $/100 grams too, and it is from Inooka region, tell me your opinion, I currently cannot afford to try any of these teas.

http://www.maiko.ne.jp/english/shopping/2009takumi.htm
http://www.hibiki-an.com/product_info.p ... cts_id/430
http://www.marukyu-koyamaen.co.jp/engli ... ds_04.html

[olivierco]

I had Hibiki-an pinnacle gyokuro and it was quite good, but not as good as some other gyokuro on the same price range (Tenka-ichi from Ippodo for instance).

Concerning the Maiko, I don't buy these kind of very limited offers because if I like a tea, I want to have some many times a year. At 22$ per session shipping costs not included I have far better ways to spend my money anyway.

Marukyu-koyamaen is definitively the next new shop I want to try but I have already many packages in my fridge.

[Oni]

I have a problem with Ippodo, they won`t ship to my country because they say that our post office only accepts invoice written in French or Romanian, they need to charge me extra and I need to place order via fax, I had no problems for 2,5 years ordering from Japan, I ordered all my japanese tea directly from japan with absolutely no problem and all was written in japanese and english. I never ordered via fax and Marukyu - Koyamaen accepts it that way only.

[Chip]

Concerning the Maiko, I don't buy these kind of very limited offers because if I like a tea, I want to have some many times a year. At 22$ per session shipping costs not included I have far better ways to spend my money anyway.

That is a BIG +1.

But if someone wants to give 'er a go, send me a couple leaves.