Type
Tohoku Meijo · Yamagata
Hatsumago Junmai Kimoto
$34.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Rice
Miyamanishiki
Prefecture
Yamagata
Flavor profileEach scale is our tasting-room read on where this bottle sits between two extremes — dry to sweet, light to full-bodied, soft to acidic, and subtle to aromatic. These are subjective, however, and will shift with food, serveware & temp.
DrySweetBalanced dry: reads as dry, with a little bit of softness, or maybe a fruit/brown sugar note that tempers the impression of dryness. Most people will read "2" as dry.
LightFullLight: lean and easy, mellow, has enough flavor and umami to give it character but generally really easy to drink. This is the most common weight for junmai ginjo/ginjo sake.
SoftAcidicSoft: the most common degree of acidity for sake. A little bit of acidity to give it structure and keep the flavor refreshing, but acidity isn't an important part of its identity.
SubtleAromaticSubtle aroma: if you stick your nose in, you'll get a few quiet notes of fruit, grains, nuts & rice. Aroma isn't a big part of this sake's character. An aromatically quiet sake can still have a powerful flavor, though.
Hatsumago is an under-the-radar favorite of mine, with creamy textural notes of vanilla rice pudding, delicate nutmeg and cinnamon, and a silky, dry-yet-fruity, medium-to-full body. The fruity Yamagata style provides backnotes of papaya, banana, apple tart and grassy freshness, while the use of traditional kimoto method fills out the texture and spice character. An absolute joy warm or gently chilled, it lacks the elevated acidity associated with most kimoto sake.
I feel that Hatsumago is at its best (most characterful) around a year past bottling, being very clean and pure in the first year and taking on spice notes and depth in the second.
The brand, Hatsumago means "first grandchild," and is often used in Japan as gifts for expecting grandparents. In a way, it's also a heartwarming brand name that suggests the purity and sweet joy of grandchildren.
Accolades:
- 2012 BTI World Wine Championships Gold Medal 91pt
- International Wine Challenge Sake Brewery of The Year 2018
Ground shipping is $25 to $40, free at 12 bottles.
Free pickup at our Portland shop. An adult (21+) with photo ID must be present for delivery.
Out of stock. Get an email when it's back
We'll email you once when it's back in stock.
Specifications
Poured at our Wednesday Flight
- Wednesday Lessons #42: Yamagata, Nov 6, 2024
Shipping
Ships to most states, not Alaska, Hawaii or Utah. No sales tax (Oregon). Free Ground shipping at 12 bottles. Pickup at our Portland shop is free.
Pick up in person
Shop open Tu–Sun. Order online and pick up at the shop — 107 SE Washington St. #121, Portland, Oregon.
