Type
Kokonoe Saika Jozo · Wakayama
Kokonoe Saika Junmai Yamahai
$38.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Rice
Gohyakumangoku (local)
Prefecture
Wakayama
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.
Pairs with
Look to delicate, skin-contact wines for inspiration in how to pair Kokonoe Saika's distinct and special yamahai junmai. In the food, add a bit of extra spice and white pepper, a bit of extra vinegar, a bit of extra yogurt, to get the liveliness up to par with this sake.
Delightful with mediterranean cuisine, anything redolent with spice, acidity and freshness, as well as raw proteins: fish crudo, tartare, and chilled tofu salad.
Delicate and fine, showing lifted minerality, a faint, maple-like candycap mushroom note, very delicate fruit notes of bruised asian pear, and a bit of zippy astringency on the finish. While most yamahai are thought of as being meaty and wild, this is a young, almost ginjo-like yamahai with lots of energy and freshness, nearly water-white in color: nothing wild or meaty about it. A slightly higher than average acidity, and a delicate mouthfeel, makes it wine-like at the table.
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.
Specifications
Poured at our Wednesday Flight
- Wednesday Flight #3: Gohyakumangoku, Sep 2, 2025
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.
