NV Kumaya Shuzo AN Tokubetsu Junmai Okayama 750 ml

This is the sake that altered the course of Wine Access sake expert Eduardo Dingler’s career, and it has the power to change the wine-to-sake ratio in any cellar. From the Japanese equivalent of Burgundy, the Kumaya Shuzo AN Tokubetsu is a singular bottle reminiscent of a rich Meursault, revealing layer upon layer of mandarin and peach blossoms before finishing bone-dry with gorgeous minerality.

Eduardo—who ran Morimoto's global beverage program for a decade—first discovered this sake at Akaboshi to Kumagai, an avant-garde restaurant in Tokyo’s Azabu-jūban neighborhood, where it was paired with grilled Iberico pork in a kumquat miso sauce. The sommelier, Akaboshi San, told him his life was about to change.

He was right.

In the glass, this sake delivers a one-of-a-kind experience with a richness, elegance, and finesse we’d compare to an 80s Meursault. Our first allocation didn’t even last the day with Wine Access members, who responded with praise like “simply gorgeous!”

Like the world’s greatest wines, what sets the AN Tokubetsu Junmai apart is its terroir. Produced with coveted Omachi rice and pure Okayama water, AN’s sakes retain shining acidity and the structure to age in the cellar. Okayama water is also known for its generous mineral attributes that make its sake complex and richly layered.

Finally, the brewers at AN allow this bottle to age before release, which creates a muscular tension and elegance that make it hard to resist—whether you’re enjoying an omakase experience or sipping this as a casual aperitif. 

This sake will captivate both seasoned sake drinkers as well as novices. There is no doubt this sake rises up to any occasion. We know you’ll love it as much as we do.