Norman

9.2

Ura-Gasanryu Koka (裏・雅山流 香華) — GREEN bottle

Brewery: Shindo Shuzoten, Yonezawa, Yamagata
Classification: Honjozo
Rice: Yamagata-grown rice
Polishing: 65%
ABV: 14%
Style: Ura-Gasanryu series

Brewer description: Designed around a fresh, fragrant character with a clean, light palate. Soft aromatics and an easy, refreshing finish emphasize drinkability rather than weight.

Tasted at Sake Day SF — 9/26/2026. Rating is limited since the same glass was reused throughout the tasting, making it difficult to get a truly clean tasting and accurate read on the aromas.

Very good and underrated. Excellent value. Not something I would bring to a serious restaurant, but I would absolutely buy it for home or at a casual restaurant. — 23 days ago

Megan Marquardt

10

Like biting into a perfect juicy melon on a perfect summer day. Obsessed — 3 months ago

Lunett/ Yosshi

Sake Specialist Hasegawa Sake Shop Tokyo

8.9

Eiko Fuji Yaminarishuusui/ Yamagata prefecture, Japan/ Fuji Shuzo / juicy fizz sweet taste — 10 months ago

Oliver Chapoy

9.4

Wow. Legit. A little fuzzy carbonic maceration, fruit forward but with a slight funk. Wish this bottle was easier to come by. — 4 years ago

with Bea

Yuri

9.2

Fairwell drinks for Inoue-san! — 5 years ago

Holly Orchard

Certified Sommelier, President of Savvy Cellar Wines Inc.

9.0

Such a great value and well balanced. I enjoyed it slightly chilled. Although it had some very subtle melon and floral notes, it did not really register as “sweet”. It was more in the aromas and had a bit of a savory, nutty finish. The texture of it was quite nice as well! — 7 years ago

Norman

9.1

Takenotsuyu (竹の露) Silent Snow

Brewery: Takenotsuyu Sake Brewery, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
Classification: Junmai Hatsushibori
Style: First pressing / freshly pressed
Appearance: Lightly cloudy
Bottle: 300ml
Storage: Keep refrigerated

Brewer description: Silent Snow, a Junmai first-pressing sake. The label presents it as a fresh, lightly cloudy expression evocative of newly fallen snow.

Tasted at Sake Day SF — 9/26/2026. Rating is limited since the same glass was reused throughout the tasting, making it difficult to get a truly clean tasting and accurate read on the aromas. Supposedly this goes with steak. I would try it again. — 23 days ago

Pablo

8.9

A little too funky for my taste. But interesting. — 3 months ago

Robert Boersma

9.6

From Japan, like grape juice. Light glou glou — 5 months ago

Finnie

10

lychee
raspberry
pinpoint bubbles
arid-dry — a year ago

Louis Martin

9.2

Fruity, with a bit of a harder mineral alcohol bite to the finish. Paired nicely with a tempura squash dish. — 5 years ago

Manchester Sheldon

9.2

Very rich and smooth with a little umami and hints of vanilla, super soft finish. — 7 years ago

ayako

9.0

山形タケダワイナリーの微発泡
サン スフル ブラン
日本酒に近い味わいで、するする飲めてしまう！フルーティーな感じで女性ウケもよさそう。
山形のワイナリーいいね☻ — 7 years ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Melon and delicate lucid fruit. Clear and precise — 16 days ago

Norman

9.1

Ohyama Tokubetsu Junmai Nama – Summer Release

Brewery: Kato Kahachiro Shuzo, Yamagata
Type: Tokubetsu Junmai Nama
Rice: Dewa no Sato
Polishing: 60%
Yeast: Yamagata NF-KA + Kyokai 1801
ABV: 15%
SMV: ±0 to +1
Acidity: 1.45–1.55
Amino Acid: 1.1–1.2
Pasteurization: None (Nama)
Release: Summer seasonal

Lightly sweet with gentle umami and fresh acidity. Very light, almost water-like weight on the palate. Clean and refreshing rather than mouth-filling. Decent persistence on the finish, although the individual flavors are subtle and hard to distinguish. Finishes tight and clean. Balanced and very easy to drink. I like it. Paid $57 but it costs $13 in Japan. 😳 — a month ago

Julia K

9.1

A special lunch sake. — 6 months ago

Neal Krishna Devaraj

9.2

Great stuff — 2 years ago

Leeann

9.6

Remind me of a farmhouse sour beer — 4 years ago

Adam Nesto

9.6

Truly excellent sake. — 6 years ago

with Alex

Jim Chen

9.0

Ultra good — 7 years ago