Tanaka

Tanaka is a Japanese sake producer whose work reflects the broader craft traditions of Japanese brewing. The collaboration product in their range — "1789 x Chartier" — points to a partnership with François Chartier, the Canadian sommelier and "aromaster" known for his science-based approach to flavour pairing and blending. This suggests Tanaka operates at the intersection of traditional sake production and contemporary cross-cultural experimentation.

Sake is brewed from polished rice, water, koji mould, and yeast, and its character is shaped by factors including the rice variety, the degree of polishing, water mineral content, and fermentation technique. Unlike wine, sake has no appellation system in the Western sense, though regional brewing traditions across Japan — from Niigata to Hyogo — each carry distinct house styles ranging from dry and clean to rich and umami-forward.

The "Pavillon of Blend 001" designation suggests this is a blended sake conceived with aromatic architecture in mind, likely drawing on Chartier's methodology of identifying molecular connections between ingredients to construct a coherent flavour profile. The 2018 vintage date is notable, as most sake is consumed young, making a dated release an indicator of intentional ageing or a deliberate effort to document a specific brew cycle.