Junmai Daiginjo
Rich and silky, or light and floral? Shop two Junmai Daiginjo sakes made in Japan: LABEL ORANGE with Urakasumi and LABEL NOIR with Niizawa, each composed by Régis Camus through Assemblage. Choose the character you would like at your table.
LABEL ORANGE
Rich and dry, with pineapple, lychee and silky umami. Open with roasted duck or aged Comté.
Discover LABEL ORANGERegular price $69.00 USDRegular priceLABEL NOIR
Light and dry, with floral aromas, cantaloupe and mineral character. Open with lobster.
Discover LABEL NOIRRegular price $92.00 USDRegular price
What does Junmai Daiginjo mean?
Junmai Daiginjo is sake brewed without added distilled alcohol, using rice polished to 50% or less of its original weight and the slow, cool approach of Ginjo brewing. At least half of the grain's original weight has been milled away. Rice, water, koji and yeast make the sake, with alcohol developing through fermentation.
The designation describes the making, rather than one flavor. Polishing, yeast and fermentation all help shape the aromas. ORANGE and NOIR share the grade, yet give you a choice between richness and delicacy.
LABEL ORANGE or LABEL NOIR?
Choose LABEL ORANGE for a silky texture and savory depth. Pineapple and lychee accompany a rich, dry palate. Urakasumi's rice for this sake is polished to 40 to 45% of its original weight. Roasted duck or aged Comté gives you a meal to plan around it.
Choose LABEL NOIR for delicate floral aromas, cantaloupe and a mineral palate with refreshing acidity. Composed with Niizawa, it is light and dry, with a lingering finish. Open it with lobster.
If you enjoy richer dry white wines, ORANGE is our starting suggestion. If you are drawn to floral aromas and freshness, begin with NOIR. Tasting the two together is another way to discover how much variety one sake grade can hold.
Is Junmai Daiginjo sweet or dry?
The grade does not specify sweetness. Both HEAVENSAKE expressions here have dry taste profiles: ORANGE is rich and dry, while NOIR is light and dry. Their fruit notes describe aromas and flavors, not fruit ingredients or a promise of sweetness. The bottle's tasting description is a better guide to your choice than the grade alone.
How does it differ from Junmai Ginjo and Daiginjo?
Junmai Ginjo requires rice polished to 60% or less of its original weight, while Junmai Daiginjo requires 50% or less. Both are made without added distilled alcohol. The thresholds overlap, so polishing alone does not determine the full designation. Our LABEL AZUR carries the Junmai Ginjo designation.
Daiginjo permits a limited addition of brewer's alcohol. Junmai Daiginjo does not. Read the full name on the bottle, then choose by the taste and texture you enjoy. Our guide to Junmai Daiginjo explains the distinctions further.
Japanese excellence, French taste
Urakasumi and Niizawa brew the sakes that give each expression its character. Régis Camus, a Champagne cellar master, composes with those sakes through Assemblage, choosing proportions for harmony in the glass. The work takes place in Japan. Discover the people and the Assemblage.
How should I serve and store these sakes?
Serve ORANGE and NOIR chilled in a wine glass, with room for their aromas to gather. NOIR's recommended serving range is 45 to 50°F. For ORANGE, our serving guidance is chilled.
After opening, keep them tightly closed and refrigerated, and enjoy within four weeks. Follow the individual product pages for each bottle's full details, or explore the rest of our collection.