Type
Tamagawa Junmai Yamahai Muroka Nama Genshu "Red Label" BY2023
$36.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Rice
Gohakymangoku
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.
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.
SoftAcidicAbove-average acidity, an important part of this sake's character, but nowhere near sour/tart. Lift, refreshing. When paired with higher sweetness, it creates a juicy, ripe impression.
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.
Sweet nuts on the nose: cashew, pistachio butter, cheesecake, sweet whey, okinawa brown sugar, nutella, and a twang of ammonia and smoky peat. This palate knocks you off your socks! Powerfully savory and dynamically different cereal/savory/toasted notes than anything else you've ever had.
My tasting notes never end with an ingredient, instead Red Label inevitably evokes an entire dish, a mood, a memory...I recall buckwheat groats shallow frying in butter...toasted wild rice, or 12 grain pancakes... heady, intoxicating, wildly evocative. The last aromas rising from a Summer fire pit dying down, burnt sugar, mezcal, especially long roasted agave hearts destined for distillation. Sweet notes of sultanas, hazelnut, amontillado sherry, birch syrup, comte and gruyere cheese.
A wild ride, that's for damn sure. Age at home (in the dark, room temp or cellar) if you want to take this ride even further, checking on its progress yearly.
My tasting notes never end with an ingredient, instead Red Label inevitably evokes an entire dish, a mood, a memory...I recall buckwheat groats shallow frying in butter...toasted wild rice, or 12 grain pancakes... heady, intoxicating, wildly evocative. The last aromas rising from a Summer fire pit dying down, burnt sugar, mezcal, especially long roasted agave hearts destined for distillation. Sweet notes of sultanas, hazelnut, amontillado sherry, birch syrup, comte and gruyere cheese.
A wild ride, that's for damn sure. Age at home (in the dark, room temp or cellar) if you want to take this ride even further, checking on its progress yearly.
Toji Philip Harper says, "It's mine until I sell it, then it's yours." Do what you want to with it. Age it, drink it, leave it out, cook with it, warm it, chill it, whatever you like. Just enjoy.
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: Kansai
Class: Junmai
Style: Yamahai
Rice: Gohakymangoku
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 66%
ABV: 21%
Yeast: Ambient
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.
