Norman

9.2

Gasanryu Gokugetsu (雅山流 極月) — BLACK bottle

Brewery: Shindo Shuzoten, Yonezawa, Yamagata
Classification: Junmai Daiginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Polishing: 40%
ABV: 16%
Style: Gasanryu premium series

Brewer description: Elegant and refined, with a gorgeous aroma, clear delicate flavor and smooth texture. Designed to balance the fragrance and richness of Yamada Nishiki with a clean finish.

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. — 14 hours ago

Norman

9.1

Kuroushi (黒牛) Junmai

Brewery: Nate Shuzoten, Kainan, Wakayama, Japan
Classification: Junmai
Rice: Yamada Nishiki / Gohyakumangoku
Polishing: 50% koji rice / 60% kakemai
ABV: 15.6%
SMV: +4
Acidity: 1.6

Brewer description: Full-bodied and rich in rice-derived umami, with balanced acidity and a clean finish. Designed to pair broadly with food and can be enjoyed chilled through warm.

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.

Drinkable and fine, but not particularly compelling. Not something I’d order at restaurant pricing. — 14 hours ago

Norman

9.2

Tonoike “Sai” Junmai Daiginjo

Brewery: Tonoike Shuzouten, Mashiko, Tochigi, Japan
Classification: Junmai Daiginjo
Rice: Yumesasara 100%
Polishing: 45%
ABV: 16%
SMV: −2
Acidity: 1.45

Brewer description: Aromas of citrus, pear and lychee with a subtle cardamom-like spice. Soft sweetness and acidity are balanced by a clean, elegant finish.

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.

Good. I preferred the Tonoike group overall to the Kuroushi bottles. — 14 hours ago

Lunett/ Yosshi

Sake Specialist Hasegawa Sake Shop Tokyo

8.9

Sisora Junmai Ginjo Sugitama label/ Shiwa shuzouten/ Iwate prefecture, Japan/ rice species: Gohyakumangoku/ rice polish ratio: 55%/ fresh note of banana, lemonade, and cider, rich sweetness, fizzy, crispy acidic and rich volume with good bitterness. Rich and juicy UMA-NIGA taste. — 8 months ago

Norman

9.0

Gakki Masamune
• Brewery: Shindo Shuzo, Fukushima
• Style: Typically Junmai or Junmai Ginjo
• Profile: Gakki Masamune has developed a cult following in Japan, often described as approachable and silky. You can expect clean fruit notes (apple, melon), moderate umami, and a soft texture. Not aggressively aromatic like a flashy daiginjo, but well-balanced and easy to pair with food. Supposedly dry but I still found it to be on the sweet side. — a year ago

Eric Urbani

9.1

Super clean — 7 years ago

Miyako Shimba

9.3

スッキリ。サラサラ飲める。 — 11 years ago

Norman

9.2

Gasanryu Kisaragi (雅山流 如月) — BLUE bottle

Brewery: Shindo Shuzoten, Yonezawa, Yamagata
Classification: Daiginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Polishing: 50%
ABV: 14%
Style: Nama-zume / single pasteurization

Brewer description: Light, clean and elegant, emphasizing a fresh ginjo aroma and smooth, transparent character with a crisp finish.

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. — 14 hours ago

Norman

9.1

Kuroushi (黒牛) Junmai Ginjo

Brewery: Nate Shuzoten, Kainan, Wakayama, Japan
Classification: Junmai Ginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Polishing: 50%
ABV: 16.5%
SMV: +3
Acidity: 1.6

Brewer description: A fuller expression of Kuroushi with restrained ginjo aromatics, substantial rice umami and balanced acidity. Smooth and food-oriented rather than overtly aromatic or sweet.

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.

Okay and drinkable, but not restaurant quality for me. — 14 hours ago

Norman

9.1

Kuroushi (黒牛) Junmai Ginjo Omachi

Brewery: Nate Shuzoten, Kainan, Wakayama, Japan
Classification: Junmai Ginjo
Rice: Omachi 100%
Polishing: 50%
ABV: 16.5%
SMV: +4
Acidity: 1.7

Brewer description: A rich expression of Omachi with depth and substantial rice umami, balanced by acidity and a clean finish. The Omachi gives the sake more breadth and weight while retaining the brewery’s food-oriented style.

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.

Okay and drinkable, but not restaurant quality for me. — 14 hours ago

Norman

9.1

HATTA Daiginjo 35 Yamada Nishiki

Brewery: Hatta Shuzoten, Japan
Classification: Daiginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Polishing: 35%
ABV: 16%
Bottle: BLACK bottle / yellow lettering

Brewer description: A highly polished Daiginjo made with Yamada Nishiki, emphasizing an elegant ginjo aroma, clean texture and refined, smooth finish.

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.

Fine. Nothing I would specifically look for. — 14 hours ago

Kevin Dale

9.2

35% rice, picking up anise and black licorice — 3 years ago

Kevin Blix

9.0

Easy drinking. — 7 years ago

Jeff S

9.0

Very solid Saki with minor notes of fruit but very smooth and dry. — 10 years ago

Norman

9.2

Tonoike “Drop of Grace” Junmai Daiginjo

Brewery: Tonoike Shuzouten, Mashiko, Tochigi, Japan
Classification: Junmai Daiginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Polishing: 38%
ABV: 16%
SMV: −4.5
Acidity: 1.4
Pressing: Shizuku, gravity drip

Brewer description: The sake is collected naturally, drop by drop, without applying pressure. Designed for an elegant aroma and exceptionally smooth, delicate texture while preserving the character of Yamada Nishiki.

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.

Good. This was the most technically interesting of the three Tonoike bottles. — 14 hours ago

Norman

9.1

HATTA Junmai Ginjo Yamada Nishiki

Brewery: Hatta Shuzoten, Japan
Classification: Junmai Ginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Polishing: 55%
ABV: 16%

Brewer description: A Junmai Ginjo designed to showcase Yamada Nishiki with a gentle ginjo aroma, balanced rice umami and a clean, smooth finish.

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.

Fine. Nothing I would specifically look for. Tried once and twice pasteurized. Slight difference but could have been glass/temp — 14 hours ago

Norman

9.2

Tonoike “bo:” Junmai Ginjo Gohyakumangoku

Brewery: Tonoike Shuzouten, Mashiko, Tochigi, Japan
Classification: Junmai Ginjo
Rice: Tochigi-grown Gohyakumangoku
Polishing: 55%
ABV: 16%
Treatment: Muroka, bottle-pasteurized

Brewer description: Muscat-like freshness with a restrained aroma, delicate flavor and a transparent, slender profile. The brewery lists this as a year-round release.

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.

Good. One of the stronger groups from the tasting. — 14 hours ago

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. — 14 hours ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.5

Clear, filtered- served cold in a box. This sake won a National New Sake Contest, squeezed from Dewasansan rice. Fuji apple, rose, grapes, and plump blue berries. What an interesting sake! — 6 years ago

Paul Mabray

Founder VinTank

9.5

The most beautiful sake I've ever had. — 10 years ago

with Angelica