Type
Banjo Jozo · Aichi
Kuheiji Junmai Daiginjo "Betsu Atsurae" 2023
$75.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Rice
Yamadanishiki (Hyogo)
Prefecture
Aichi
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.
Classic Kuheiji. Elegant, even understated on the nose, but overdelivering on the palate, much like a great chablis opening up from its rest in bottle. This particular Yamadanishiki junmai daiginjo is characterized numerically by 35% polish, and stylistically by its emphasis on umami and acidity. It is aged a minimum of one year before release. As of 2024, 2022 is the most current vintage available.
I sense elevated acidity with fresh citrus notes: lime leaf, orange fizz, and a tart lactic note reminiscent of kefir. Pure and crystalline-- lean and ephemeral, but with a long and haunting finish. Significantly lighter and more delicate than the entry level Eau de Desir, but clearly of the same mind.
From the Kuheiji website ([adjustments added for clarity])
"One of the three versions of [Kuheiji] Yamadanishiki sake polished past 50 percent, [which is] the [threshold] beyond which notes of toasted undergrowth cereals and mushrooms are erased in favor of great freshness. Tertiary ([aging]) aromas will also take a special [direction] toward white pepper or anise.
[Yamadanishiki] rice offers unlimited possibilities due to its ability to be highly polished. Like a diamond whose complexity reveals itself as you get closer to its heart.
35 percent is the stage where the rice umami still expresses itself, with taut acidity, which explains the fiery feeling in the mouth from the start.
The residual sugar content has been deliberately reduced, which gives the sake a great clarity.
If sake [generally plays a supporting role against] the dishes it accompanies, [Betsu Atsurae instead] competes with the food, therefore requiring an equally robust pairing such as fatty meat or rich caviar."
Your case:
$30 flat-rate case shipping (up to 12 bottles) — the more you add, the less per bottle. Per federal requirements, an adult (21+) with photo ID must be present to receive the delivery.
Sake Club members: $20 shipping (up to 12 bottles) with your club bottles About the clubs
Specifications
Region: Chubu
Type: Junmai Daiginjo & Daiginjo
Style: Modern
Rice: Yamadanishiki (Hyogo)
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 35%
ABV: 16%
Size: 720ml
Shipping
Available nationwide to states and counties that permit alcohol. No sales tax (Oregon). Flat-rate case shipping; in-store pickup available.
Pick up in person
Shop open Tu–Sun. Order online and pick up at the shop — 107 SE Washington St. #121, Portland, Oregon.
