As sakamai "越淡麗 (koshitanrei)" was developed in Niigata Prefecture, which is representative sake for sale with such taste as a recommendable variety, it has become popular to write as "淡麗" as far as sake taste is concerned.
そういう酒の味の代表格である新潟県で奨励品種の酒米として「越淡麗」（こしたんれい）を開発するに至り、現在ではすっかり酒の味に関しては「淡麗」と書くようになった。