Tamagawa Junmai Yamahai "White Label" 3U Version

A rich and expressive nose evokes the scent of fruit compote, particularly apples and pears. The aroma brought back memories of my grandmother's homemade pear compote. The flavour profile opens with depth and richness, though it's not as sweet as expected. It's full-bodied with a velvety, creamy texture and a beautifully balanced mouthfeel that harmonises sweetness, acidity, and subtle bitterness.

The 2024 brewing year (BY) differs noticeably from the 2022 BY we sampled last year: it has a pale lemon hue rather than gold. It carries a bit more punch with an alcohol content of 21–22%. Despite the strength, it leans surprisingly dry and delivers a pronounced sense of umami.

While the initial bitterness is noticeable, it softens as the sake reaches room temperature. This is captivating in every regard—fiery, spicy, gentle, and commanding. When allowed to breathe, the mouthfeel develops a sweetness reminiscent of chocolate or cacao.

It remains one of our highest-rated and most beloved selections.

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Appearance: clear and lemon
Nose: clean and pronounced
Aroma: fruity sweetness, cereal/grain
Sweetness: slightly dry
Acidity: medium
Umami: medium+
Alcohol: high (!)
Body: full
Flavour intensity: pronounced
Flavour characteristics: quite dry, rich
Texture: velvety-creamy
Finish: medium+, clean
Quality level: excellent

Tamagawa's White Label displays a golden hue, forming church windows on the glass when swirled. It has a rich aroma of dried fruits, such as figs, prunes and apricots, with a hint of turpentine. It feels smooth and velvety on the palate, with a deep sweetness and umami. It is not very acidic but relatively mild and gentle. It is a namazake, but it has a mature and mellow flavour. However, it is also very potent, with an alcohol content of over 20%!

Sake can only have an alcohol content of up to 22%, depending on fermentation. Anything higher than that is not considered sake: the Liquor Tax Law sets the limit for sake at 21%, so anything above that is classified as "miscellaneous sake".

Sake with a punch! Brilliant!