Type
Kato Kahachiro Shuzo · Yamagata
Ohyama "Tomizu" Tokubetsu Junmai Nama Genshu 2025
$52.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Rice
Haenuki (Yamagata)
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: a bit of fleshy sweetness. Fruit notes taste more round and juicy, chocolate notes have more heft. Typical sweetness for modern styles. Some people will read "3" as dry.
LightFullVery full: big, dense and viscous, layered and very complex, and/or lots of sweetness, alcohol, umami & age (or all the above). Like a strong cocktail, you'll sip a 5 more slowly.
SoftAcidicAcidic: bright, zippy, noticeable sourness, very often balanced by higher sweetness. Acidity is a key part of this sake's character, and might be heightened with special techniques, yeasts, koji, or CO2 gas.
SubtleAromaticAromatic: aroma is a big part of this sake's character and design. Perfume fills the glass. Usually "4" aroma is coming from ginjo-ka (fruit, florals).
This sake is named "tomizu" because it uses an Edo-period (~1600-1800s) water ratio for brewing: 10 units of water (instead of the usual 12), resulting in a thicker, more concentrated brew. Dense and juicy, with complex notes of fruit and grain, Tomizu is always one of the funnest, most expressive sake of the nama season.
The palate starts a little candied: nostalgic flavors of Cherry Heads, ripe apricot, and mango. But as the flavors open up on the palate, a complex range of spice, grain and bitterness washes through: clove, aniseed, ripe sliced banana, cherry blossom, maraschino liqueur, and allspice. There is a comforting backbone of sweet rice and umami... fresh mochi, chestnut paste, toasted soybean flour, and anko bean jam come to mind.
Overall the sake is powerful and intriguing. This is definitely a unique brew that needs time in the glass to understand, and which really goes interesting places over 6-12 months of fridge aging, too.
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
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Specifications
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.
