New Store Arrivals – Shichiken, Nabeshima, Tenmei & Kuheiji Sauvage

Shichiken Hakushin “White Heart”
From Yamanashi Prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this sake that was created to honor the town and the people of Hakushu is a wonderful collection of powdered sugar, orange, lemon verbena, shiso, mochi, King’s Hawaiian rolls, and snowmelt aromas. It’s not too often that a brewery states that this sake represents the excellence and spirit of their hometown, and then it wins the Top Trophy for the Best Sake at the International Wine Challenge 2025. It did! And for good reason, like using local Yumesansui rice milled to 27%, and being “cold aged” for one year to bring out more depth, feeling, and flavor. Extremely limited, this sake drinks smooth, soft, elegant, slippery, buoyant, delicate, and redefines a silky premium sake. Look for strawberry mousse, ripe papaya, powdered sugar, longan, orange blossom, melon candy, sugarcane, and Mandarin flavors that dance playfully on a peek-a-boo shibumi that elevates the plump flow. Using a 750ml bottle, this is master class award winning sake. Perfect for that one of a kind haute cuisine evening. WORD: IWC Grand Champion WINE: Lush Reds/Plump Whites BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Omakase and Michelin fare.

Nabeshima "Yokawa Yamadanishiki"
From Saga Prefecture. Tokubetsu Junmai. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this extremely tasty New World Junmai is a gorgeous collection of grapefruit, Asian pear, persimmon, cucumber, sweet rice, and ocean water aromas. This brewery is known amongst the salarymen and salary women of Japan as “CEO sake” that is untouchable for the lower ranks. Not now, not here! Clean, light, expressive, zesty, fresh and with a little elegant tingle, this inviting Junmai is refreshing and delicious. The balance is exceptional. Look for pound cake, mango, powdered sugar, passion fruit, Asian pear, and Pixy Stix flavors that are both rich and light, with a gentle pasteurization resulting in a lively and exciting sake that comes with a warning that the top might pop when opening. It definitely pops the flavor top! WORD: Refreshing WINE: Zesty Reds/Lively Whites BEER: Bright Fruity Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, white fish carpaccio, sweet shrimp, crab, oysters, cheese plates, chicken on a stick, and dishes with ponzu.

Tenmei "Orange Label"
From Fukushima Prefecture. Junmai SMV: +2 Acidity: 1.6
The nose on this really cool Junmai is a slick collection of blackberry, peach, apricot, blueberry, and steamed rice aromas. Akebono Shuzo gets big props for taking sake making to the next level using a new spin on a traditional way of making sake. San-Dan-Jikomi is the traditional three-step method to sake brewing, but instead of the same rice in each stage, they use a different rice variety when adding to the tank. First Gohyakumangoku, then Kameno O (for crispness and umami), and then Yume no Kaori (to soften and sweeten the flavor). How cool is that? Soft, clean, and light, medium bodied, layered, buoyant, juicy, fresh, with a fun flow that is plump yet crisp. Look for nectarine, yellow cherry, raspberry, apricot, and dried pear tones with a lovely vein of umami and a quick finish. Smart sake for the smart sake drinker. WORD: Layered WINE: Tannin Reds/Crisp Whites BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, yakitori, grilled meats, pizza, tomato salads, fruit and cheese plates, crab, and shrimp dishes.

Kamoshibito Kuheiji Omachi “Sauvage”
From Aichi Prefecture. Junmai Daiginjo. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this very cool Daiginjo is an intriguing collection of finger lime, dried pear, dried pineapple, oatmeal, seaweed, steamed rice, and rain water aromas. Made using Omachi (Milled to 50%) brewing rice from Okayama Prefecture, this brewery is famous for their wine motif and style in sake making and for their vineyard in Bordeaux, France. But they made sake first! And it’s a good thing, because this brew is delicious and so elegant in a modern style kind of way. Frisky, bright, zesty, crisp, spritzy, and expressive this brew drinks with a light effervescence and has a super quick dry finish. Look for peach, Muscat, dried mango, apricot, lime, cereal bar, toast and jelly, kumquat, and blood orange flavors that drink dry, fresh, and festive. This is balanced elegance at its best. WORD: Elegant WINE: Zesty Reds/Crisp Whites BEER: Crispy Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, white fish carpaccio