Dan Junmai

Drawing from their pristine and prestigious soft water well at the foot of Mt. Fuji, brewing with snowmelt from Japan's most sacred mountain, Dan is Sasaichi's modern brand: their statement to the world on what they see as the future of sake. 

The junmai is at its core, a very classic junmai: smooth, a little nutty, sweet brown rice notes, fresh orchard fruit, but the bottle opens with a small pop and this attention to detail, the crisp brightness of a bit of trapped CO2, adds a new spin on a familiar tune. 

Yamanashi sake is nearly as famous as its wine (the environment is stunning: a mountain valley dotted with pergolas, rivers, lakes, campgrounds and ancient temples) but it's almost entirely consumed within the prefecture. When I visited in 2020, the wine professionals I was spending time with were quick to take me out for local oden (which we had with Dan Junmai) and hooto (pumpkin and udon soup-- it's to die for) with equally beloved local brand Shichiken.