Heavensake Junmai Ginjo 720ML

Heavensake Junmai Ginjo 720ML is a Franco-Japanese collaboration sake brewed at Urakasumi in Miyagi, Japan, bottled at 15.5% ABV in a 720ml format. A Gold Medal winner at the 2023 San Francisco International Wine Competition, this expression stands apart for its use of Champagne-style assemblage — a blending technique rarely applied to sake — overseen by Régis Camus, the celebrated former Chef de Cave of Piper-Heidsieck.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.5%  |  Origin: Miyagi Prefecture, Japan  |  Junmai Ginjo  |  Brewery: Urakasumi (est. 1724)

Production & Heritage

Urakasumi is one of Japan's most respected sake breweries, founded in 1724 in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, with nearly three centuries of continuous production. For Heavensake, Régis Camus applied the assemblage method — standard practice in Champagne blending but virtually unprecedented in sake — combining three different rice varieties polished to a 50–55% ratio. The result is a Junmai Ginjo built on layered complexity rather than single-rice purity, with each component selected for its contribution to nose, mouthfeel, and length.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with brioche and honeycomb sweetness before giving way to ripe plum and kiwi. Delicate floral notes and a bright citrus lift carry through, lending the aroma an almost wine-like elegance.

Taste: On entry, soft peach and pear flavors coat the palate with gentle sweetness. The mid-palate shifts toward crisp apple and grape, balanced by moderate acidity that keeps the sake from tipping into cloying territory. Tropical fruit and light pastry notes emerge as the profile deepens.

Finish: The finish is medium in length with a clean, lightly dry texture. Lingering traces of citrus peel and stone fruit fade gracefully without bitterness.

How to Drink Heavensake Junmai Ginjo

This sake drinks beautifully slightly chilled, between 8–12°C, where the assemblage's layered aromatics are most expressive. It also works well at room temperature for those who prefer a rounder, fuller mouthfeel. For cocktails, try it in a Sake Spritz with sparkling water and yuzu peel, where its brioche character adds depth; a Tokyo Mule replacing vodka with sake alongside ginger beer and lime, which highlights the citrus and tropical fruit notes; or a Sake Martini stirred with dry vermouth, where the moderate acidity and clean finish provide structure similar to a white wine base.

Best For

• Introducing wine drinkers to premium sake through a familiar blending philosophy
• Pairing with a multi-course Japanese dinner or omakase experience
• Gifting someone who appreciates Franco-Japanese craftsmanship and cross-cultural collaboration
• Hosting a sake-versus-Champagne comparative tasting at home

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Heavensake Junmai Ginjo taste like? It delivers soft peach and pear flavors balanced by moderate acidity, with supporting notes of brioche, tropical fruit, and honeycomb, finishing clean and lightly dry.

How does Heavensake Junmai Ginjo compare to Dassai 39? Both are Junmai Ginjo-grade sakes, but Dassai 39 relies on a single rice variety (Yamada Nishiki) for purity of expression, while Heavensake blends three rice varieties using Champagne-style assemblage for layered complexity. Heavensake tends to lean fruitier and rounder, whereas Dassai 39 is often described as more linear and minerally.

Is Heavensake Junmai Ginjo good for sake beginners? Yes — the assemblage technique produces a balanced, approachable profile with gentle sweetness and low bitterness, making it an accessible entry point for those transitioning from wine.

Where is Heavensake Junmai Ginjo made? It is brewed at the Urakasumi brewery in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan — a sake house founded in 1724. The assemblage blending is directed by Régis Camus, who brings his Champagne expertise to the final composition.

What foods pair well with Heavensake Junmai Ginjo? Sashimi and raw oysters complement its clean acidity. Tempura works well alongside the subtle sweetness and brioche-like richness. Soft-ripened cheeses like brie echo the creamy mouthfeel. Grilled white fish with citrus mirrors the sake's tropical and stone fruit notes. Light fruit-based desserts, such as poached pear, harmonize with the finish.

What sizes does Heavensake Junmai Ginjo come in? The standard format is 720ml, which is the traditional Japanese sake bottle size equivalent to roughly a standard wine bottle.

Is Heavensake Junmai Ginjo worth the price? It positions as a premium Junmai Ginjo, sitting above everyday sake but below ultra-premium daiginjo expressions. The Gold Medal at the 2023 San Francisco International Wine Competition and the unique Champagne assemblage process add tangible value relative to comparably priced single-rice sakes.

Why Heavensake Junmai Ginjo?

The core differentiator here is the assemblage. While virtually all premium sake is defined by a single rice variety and a single brewery's house style, Heavensake inverts that convention by treating sake the way a Champagne house treats its cuvée — blending components for balance, complexity, and consistency. Régis Camus's involvement is not a marketing gimmick; his track record includes eight consecutive "Sparkling Winemaker of the Year" titles at the International Wine Challenge. The 2023 Gold Medal from the San Francisco International Wine Competition validates the approach with independent critical recognition. For drinkers who find single-rice Junmai Ginjo too narrow or want a bridge between wine and sake culture, this expression fills a genuine gap in the market.