Dewazakura Junmai Ginjo Omachi - 'Jewel Brocade' (720ml)

Dewazakura Shuzo was founded in 1892 by Seijiro Nakano in Yamagata's fertile basin, a region ringed by mountains and blessed with heavy seasonal rain and snowfall that feed the area's exceptional brewing water. Over more than a century, the brewery has grown into one of Japan's most respected sake producers, known for balancing innovation with a deep respect for traditional rice varieties, including the one used to craft this particular bottling.

Jewel Brocade is made from Omachi, an heirloom rice strain considered the ancestor of many modern sake rice varieties still used across Japan today. The rice is polished down to 50 percent and fermented with a Yamagata house yeast, a combination that lets Omachi's naturally bold, ornate character shine through rather than be polished away. The result is a junmai ginjo with more richness and weight than many of its lighter counterparts.

On the nose, look for honey, delicate florals, steamed rice, and lemon peel. The palate follows with a deep, round juiciness, layering in clover, sweet rice, and green tea notes that mellow the longer it sits in the glass. Slightly sweet but never cloying, it finishes with a soft mineral edge. Pair it with sweet corn croquettes, a simple omelette, or other mildly seasoned dishes that let its richness lead.