Yokawa Yoneda is another bottling from the masters of Tatsuriki Brewery in Hyogo Prefecture in southern Japan above Osaka and west of Kyoto, founded in 1921. As we mentioned in our previous offer of the Akitsu a few weeks back, Tatsuriki is one of the few breweries that take the soil where the rice is grown very seriously, and the Yokawa Yoneda could be considered the little (yet very capable) brother to Akitsu. Tatsuriki has conducted extensive research to pinpoint some of the best Terroirs in Japan. One of the leaders of this was Takeyoshi Honda, who conducted soil research at the Graduate School of Agriculture in Kyoto, Japan, for 20 years until his passing in his late 80s. His findings on how different soils affect the rice Yamada Nishiki were revolutionary, discovering that magnesium content is linked to Sake's sharpness and bitterness.
While the Akitsu comes from Tojo, this Sake comes from the area of Yokawa from the village of Yoneda, hence the name Yokawa Yoneda. The soils of Yokawa are rich in potassium and magnesium, with a layer of blue clay on top (pictured above). The rice roots go deep underground and produce a rich sake with high acidity that is expressively fragrant. This Sake is made with the king of Rice, Yamada Nishiki, which is organically grown and dried using the traditional method, which is then polished down to 35%. This Sake is aged for 8 to 10 years at the brewery and is remarkably complex, with fruit-forward aromas that move into subtle expressions of minerals, wild grasses, and nutty notes. The palate has an incredible acidity that cuts through the richness like a laser, bringing energy and balance and retaining freshness. We are always trying to find Sake that can be paired with Western food, and this is one that can hold up to more decadent French dishes, as well as go with cuts of tuna. Tatsuriki is quickly becoming one of our favorite Breweries, and we plan on featuring more of their single-site Sakes in the future. Where Akitsu is like Romanee Conti, Yokawa Yoneda is like La Tache; both are magnificent yet different. Tatsuriki's pursuit of the highest quality rice and terroir makes a substantial difference and is like going from a village wine to a Grand Cru. This is another highly recommended rare find for the Sake lover looking to explore the next level, and these are the most recent bottles available in the USA.
Tatsuriki Yokawa Yoneda Junmai Daiginjo 720ml
Tatsuriki Yokawa Yoneda Junmai Daiginjo 720ml
Yokawa Yoneda is another bottling from the masters of Tatsuriki Brewery in Hyogo Prefecture in southern Japan above Osaka and west of Kyoto, founded in 1921. As we mentioned in our previous offer of the Akitsu a few weeks back, Tatsuriki is one of the few breweries that take the soil where the rice is grown very seriously, and the Yokawa Yoneda could be considered the little (yet very capable) brother to Akitsu. Tatsuriki has conducted extensive research to pinpoint some of the best Terroirs in Japan. One of the leaders of this was Takeyoshi Honda, who conducted soil research at the Graduate School of Agriculture in Kyoto, Japan, for 20 years until his passing in his late 80s. His findings on how different soils affect the rice Yamada Nishiki were revolutionary, discovering that magnesium content is linked to Sake's sharpness and bitterness.
While the Akitsu comes from Tojo, this Sake comes from the area of Yokawa from the village of Yoneda, hence the name Yokawa Yoneda. The soils of Yokawa are rich in potassium and magnesium, with a layer of blue clay on top (pictured above). The rice roots go deep underground and produce a rich sake with high acidity that is expressively fragrant. This Sake is made with the king of Rice, Yamada Nishiki, which is organically grown and dried using the traditional method, which is then polished down to 35%. This Sake is aged for 8 to 10 years at the brewery and is remarkably complex, with fruit-forward aromas that move into subtle expressions of minerals, wild grasses, and nutty notes. The palate has an incredible acidity that cuts through the richness like a laser, bringing energy and balance and retaining freshness. We are always trying to find Sake that can be paired with Western food, and this is one that can hold up to more decadent French dishes, as well as go with cuts of tuna. Tatsuriki is quickly becoming one of our favorite Breweries, and we plan on featuring more of their single-site Sakes in the future. Where Akitsu is like Romanee Conti, Yokawa Yoneda is like La Tache; both are magnificent yet different. Tatsuriki's pursuit of the highest quality rice and terroir makes a substantial difference and is like going from a village wine to a Grand Cru. This is another highly recommended rare find for the Sake lover looking to explore the next level, and these are the most recent bottles available in the USA.
