Junmai Daiginjo Sake
Tatenokawa, Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo Sake
Tatenokawa, Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo Sake is a junmai daiginjo sake from Tatenokawa. It is made with rice polished to 18% and brewed from Yuki Megami rice.
- Category
- Junmai Daiginjo
- Polishing ratio
- 18%
- Rice variety
- Yuki Megami
- Yeast
- M310, Yamagata KA
At a glance
- Producer
- Tatenokawa
- Category
- Junmai Daiginjo
- Polishing ratio
- 18%
- Rice variety
- Yuki Megami
- Yeast
- M310, Yamagata KA
- SMV (sake meter value)
- -9
What makes this bottle different
- Sake meter value of -9, a rough dryness indicator.
Key facts
Technical
- Acidity
- 1.4
- Amino-acid value
- 0.8
Dry or sweet?
Its sake meter value (SMV) is -9. A negative SMV tends toward the sweeter side — though perceived sweetness also depends on its acidity and serving temperature.
How it's made
As published, Tatenokawa, Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo Sake is brewed with Yuki Megami rice, polished to 18%, using M310, Yamagata KA yeast. These are the producer-disclosed production details; steps that are not published are not shown.
Taste & aroma
The producer describes: “an elegant, gorgeous and gentle aroma, with the soft sweetness of the rice spreading smoothly and deeply across the palate” (source)
How to drink it
The producer recommends: “chilled (around 5°C), at room temperature (15–25°C)” (source)
Tatenokawa, Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo Sake — questions
- What is Tatenokawa Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo?
- It is a Junmai Daiginjo sake from Tatenokawa in Yamagata, Japan, brewed from 100% Yuki Megami rice polished to 18% and bottled at 14.8% ABV. The producer positions it as the pinnacle of its lineup.
- What does the '18' (Eighteen) refer to?
- It refers to the rice polishing ratio: the rice is milled down to 18% of its original size, an extremely high degree of polishing that the producer describes as the 'jewel in the crown' of the Tatenokawa range.
- How should Tatenokawa Eighteen be served?
- The producer recommends it chilled at around 5°C or at room temperature (15–25°C) to show its elegant aromatics.
- What is the SMV (sake meter value)?
- Tatenokawa, Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo Sake's smv (sake meter value) is -9.
- What yeast is used?
- Tatenokawa, Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo Sake's yeast is M310, Yamagata KA.
- What rice is used?
- Tatenokawa, Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo Sake's rice variety is Yuki Megami.
- What is the acidity?
- Tatenokawa, Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo Sake's acidity is 1.4.
- What type/category of sake is this?
- Tatenokawa, Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo Sake's category is Junmai Daiginjo.
How it compares with other Tatenokawa bottles
Exact-product differences from governed facts present on both bottles, plus flavour-node differences mapped separately from each producer tasting note. Missing facts are not inferred.
- Amino-acid value — this bottle
- 0.8
- Amino-acid value — comparison bottle
- 0.9
- Polishing ratio — this bottle
- 18%
- Polishing ratio — comparison bottle
- 50%
- Rice variety — this bottle
- Yuki Megami
- Rice variety — comparison bottle
- Miyama Nishiki
- Acidity — this bottle
- 1.4
- Acidity — comparison bottle
- 1.6
Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo Sake and MUGA Platinum Junmai Daiginjo Muroka Nama Genshu Sake differ on amino-acid value: 0.8 vs 0.9; polishing ratio: 18% vs 50%.
- Amino-acid value — this bottle
- 0.8
- Amino-acid value — comparison bottle
- 1.3
- Polishing ratio — this bottle
- 18%
- Polishing ratio — comparison bottle
- 50%
- Rice variety — this bottle
- Yuki Megami
- Rice variety — comparison bottle
- Soube Wase
- Acidity — this bottle
- 1.4
- Acidity — comparison bottle
- 1.6
Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo Sake and SHIELD Soube Wase Junmai Daiginjo Sake differ on amino-acid value: 0.8 vs 1.3; polishing ratio: 18% vs 50%.
- Polishing ratio — this bottle
- 18%
- Polishing ratio — comparison bottle
- 50%
- Rice variety — this bottle
- Yuki Megami
- Rice variety — comparison bottle
- Dewasansan
Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo Sake and Phoenix Junmai Daiginjo Sake differ on polishing ratio: 18% vs 50%; rice variety: Yuki Megami vs Dewasansan.
- Polishing ratio — this bottle
- 18%
- Polishing ratio — comparison bottle
- 45%
- Rice variety — this bottle
- Yuki Megami
- Rice variety — comparison bottle
- Soube Wase
Eighteen Junmai Daiginjo Sake and Timeless Sake: Soube Wase differ on polishing ratio: 18% vs 45%; rice variety: Yuki Megami vs Soube Wase.
Understanding these terms
General explanations of the terms above — these describe the concepts, not this specific bottle.
What does polishing ratio mean?
The polishing (or milling) ratio is the percentage of each rice grain that remains after polishing. A lower number means more of the grain's outer layer has been milled away — a general characteristic of premium categories, not a measure of a specific bottle's quality.
What is SMV?
SMV (sake meter value, nihonshu-do) is a general indicator of a sake's density relative to water. Positive values trend drier and negative values sweeter — but perception also depends on acidity and serving temperature.
What is acidity in sake?
Acidity (san-do) is a general measure of the organic acids in sake that shape its structure and balance; higher acidity often reads as firmer, lower as softer.
Style context — Junmai Daiginjo
WhatDrink style-level reference data for Junmai Daiginjo. These are typical relationships for the style, not measured facts about this exact bottle.
What Junmai Daiginjo means
Junmai Daiginjo is a specially designated sake made from rice and koji without added brewing alcohol, using rice polished to 50% or less of its original weight.
How Junmai Daiginjo is generally made
Junmai Daiginjo uses rice and koji, a rice polishing ratio of 50% or less, and ginjo-style low-temperature fermentation techniques associated with a characteristic fruity aroma.
Style-level production context only. The exact-product production section above takes precedence where available.
Food pairings for Junmai Daiginjo
- delicate seafood
General style pairing references — not a claim that this exact bottle was tested with these foods.
Glassware for Junmai Daiginjo
- Daiginjo glass
Style-level serving context, not a producer instruction for this bottle.
Style authority: JSS — sake label and designation guide · JSS — sake cups and vessels · JSS — seafood pairing guidance
Sources & provenance
- ProducerOfficial producer product pagePublished product specifications shown on this page.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-04.
Part of WhatDrink's Sake guide.