Type
Akebono Shuzo · Fukushima
Tenmei "Bear" Junmai Cup
$8.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Rice
Yamadanishiki
Prefecture
Fukushima
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
Engage as suggested by the 22 bears on the label. Inner tube? Bowtie? Dance party? Contemplative and warm? With chips? In skimpy swimwear? Why not! All of the above!
With the fruit-driven flavors and fresh texture, my thoughts go to spicy-sweet: mapo tofu, glazed pork, BBQ, tteokbokki, anything Cantonese, just about anything Southern. This would go great chilled or gently warmed with my neighbor OP's ham-apple-frisee lunchtime classic sandwich, "The Randy."
Enjoy it cold for an extra refreshing character, or a bit warmer to enhance the umami for more savory food.
Tenmei: killing it. Always! They make such good sake.
This fresh restock from Fukushima has the tiniest bit of sparkle: a mark of freshness, like sake right from the tap. The flavor is bright and zippy, with notes of fresh banana, cherry-vanilla soda, rice milk, Fuji apple, and a lovely, umami-rich viscosity. I'm describing sweet things, but it isn't sweet! It's just chock-full of fun, fresh flavor.
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
Region: Tohoku
Type: Tokubetsu Junmai & Tokubetsu Honjozo
Rice: Yamadanishiki
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 65%
ABV: 15%
Starter: Sokujo
SMV: +2
Yeast: Utsukushima Yume Kobo, #701, House
Size: 180ml
Poured at our Wednesday Flight
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.
