Ubusuna Homasu Ippon Teue

Ubusuna, the new label from Hananoka Shuzo. From growing the rice to brewing the sake, it holds strictly to traditional methods and terroir, and each requirement it clears adds another icon to the back label. This bottle achieved eight requirements — cultivation in the Kikuchi River basin, no pesticides, no fertilizer, hatanawashiro (dry-field nursery beds), single hand-transplanting, hazakake (rack-drying), kimoto, and kioke (wooden vat) — making it the finest bottle of the season. A duet of ripe urika fruit aroma and an extremely clear, refined umami makes for a pleasant sip.