If you sample them both and can answer my riddle,
I'll provide you with the Margaux you're looking for.
What does he think he's up to here?
What's wrong?
What's the riddle?
First, drink and compare them.
My throat feels dry...
An endless, unyielding thirst...
Someone, give me water!
Am I being invited inside?
What is this smell that reminds me of death?
A coffin? This is...
Well, Shizuku-kun?
Did you enjoy the wine?
The death of a queen...
She once ruled over a kingdom,
but now she's just a mummy in a forgotten land.
I see.
Hey, is this really a great vintage?
Try the other. It's from '78.
This is the wine of a queen!
It's filled with the grace of flowers in full bloom.
True elegance!
And my riddle for you is this: What is the difference between the two?
Give me your answer.
Not what your brain thinks, but what your tongue tasted.
What is it that brought forth the queen's beauty?
What's the matter?
If you're not going to answer, then leave.
I'm busy, you know.
"Man."
If a wine was blessed by heaven and earth, yet it remains weak,
only one element could be the culprit.
The deficiency must be man.
Even a wise and beautiful ruler can't be a true queen without admirers.
The '70 Margaux was lacking the knowledge and power of man.
Indeed.
At the time, Margaux's owners weren't properly investing in their facilities.
They relied solely on the value of their brand's name.
As a result, they produced many failures unworthy of a First Growth chateau.
And this bottle is one of them?
Indeed.
The '70 Margaux.
And yet the '78 Margaux had nuances similar to the '02 vintage.
In 1977, someone else took over the chateau.
In a single year, they were able to revive it
such that they could produce this '78 Margaux.
In a single year?
Of course, much of Margaux's success afterward owes
to the genius enologist Paul Pontallier.
I see.
So it's human power that gives life to the blessings of heaven and the land.
Now, as promised, I shall provide the inferior Margaux you seek.
You're seriously giving it to me?
Tomine Issei is not a man who goes back on his word.
But before that, I have another question for you.
What did you first think when you saw these wines?
Nothing. I just wanted to drink them.
What?
That's how it always is when I see wine.
I feel thirsty, like a traveler walking through the desert.
I'll fetch the wine from the cellar.
I ought to thank him...
for coming all the way here to teach me my weakness.
I see. The '75 Margaux...
Yeah, it's not impressive.
Right. For a Margaux, it's not good enough.
But it was still a great year, so it's not all that bad.
True.
Kanzaki, you sure that Tomine hasn't set you up?
He's challenging me.
He knows there's a better but lower-ranking wine from the same year,
and he wants me to find it.
Is that even possible?
There are so many wines...
How can we find something better?
Nah, it's simple.
At least, it'll be easier than finding the Twelve Apostles and the Drops of God.
H-Hey, let's talk to someone who's had every wine there is!
Huh? You can't mean...
I refuse!
Who's this guy?
He's actually incredible!
I only helped you because it wouldn't have been any fun to watch Issei
readily beat a total beginner!
Yet you took advantage of his arrogance and walked away with the first round.
You make it sound like I cheated!
If you need my help for something this simple,
you've got no chance in the rest of the competition!
But...
Beat it already.
F-Fine! I'm not coming to you anymore!
Sh-Shizuku-san!
U-Um...
I was the one who suggested talking to you!
Then you should understand what I'm saying.
But we don't have the money to try enough wines...
Hey, you guys!
What do you want, old geezer?
Do me a favor.
Here.
Take this letter to the Japan Wine School.
We don't have time—
I've taught you plenty, haven't I?
Now's your chance to pay me back.
Sh-Shizuku-san, let's just go!
Wasting our time...
Come on, calm down.
Gracious me...
This is a famous wine school!
I've read the letter. Right this way, please.
He said he wouldn't help us,
but he's set us up to score free wine!
U-Um, what is this place?
This is the dishwashing room.
Er, I can see that. But what are we doing here?
Why, you'll be washing dishes.
No, we're here to find a wine...
But this letter here reads,
"I'm sending you these three to cover all the wine I drank."
"Make them wash dishes for a day."
So if you'd be so kind, please get right to it.
Oh dear, class is starting.
No, you've got it all wrong!
Here you go!
W-We're supposed to wash all these?!
Hey, let's get out of here!
Honma-san, wait a second.
All these glasses have different numbers, and they list the vintage too.
So they're tasting a ton of wines at once...
Excuse me. What wines are they tasting in class?
Today's our annual event.
The theme is Bordeaux wines from the 70s to the 90s.
They're all good vintages, though none are expensive.
H-How many are they tasting?
Hmm, I'd say 500.
Five hundred?!
That's an incredible tasting event!
Let's sample all the leftover wine while we wash the glasses.
All right!
I'll find it...
That lone diamond in the desert!
After five hundred of them, we've got some good candidates.
With the three of us, we discovered a lot of nice wines in a short amount of time!
What's wrong, Kanzaki?
It's not enough...
It can't just be tasty wine.
We need something more than taste to change Takasugi's stubborn mind.
Okay, let's get back to work!
Yeah!
In the end, we didn't find a single one good enough.
Yeah.
We're not done yet! Off to a wine bar!
Seriously? Are you paying?
Fool! I paid yesterday!
Miyabi-chan, what're you gonna do?
U-Um, I'll go home and try looking through some books.
Oh, right.
That's another way to approach this.
See you!
Hello? Shinohara speaking.
Hey, Shinohara-san.
Are you off work?
Takasugi-kun?!
Do you have time for dinner together?
Yeah, you got it.
I'll come get you.
Where are you?
It's okay. I can get there myself.
That part of you hasn't changed.
This place is lovely.
It's not easy to get a reservation.
You there. What wines do you have?
Sir! We've prepared a 2000 Margaux just for you.
Pour it for her. We don't need a tasting or anything.
As you wish, sir.
Here, drink.
I'm sure you know this,
but the 2000 is supposed to be a rare vintage not easily found.
It smells good.
Indeed, it's quite good.
Though it's got a bit of bite to it.
I suppose the reason it costs 50,000 yen a bottle has to be the branding.
The wine wasn't ready for you to drink.
If you'd had this Margaux decanted with the finest technique
and served to you in the finest manner,
you'd think 50,000 yen was more than fair.
Shinohara-san?
Takasugi-kun, you never used to care about brands.
This watch you gave me... I've always treasured it.
Tell me, Takasugi-kun. What happened to you?
Nothing. I'm still me.
I just realized...
it's not what's inside that truly matters in this world.
Brand image is what determines your worth.
Takasugi-kun...
I'm not saying this because I'm arrogant nouveau riche.
I learned as much through painful experience.
But let's enjoy our meal and talk about old times.
That's why I invited you here tonight.
Takasugi-kun?
What?
What was this "painful experience"?
I don't want to talk about it.
Remembering it saddens me.
I'm sorry.
No...
Something happened, and thinking back on it makes him sad?
He transferred to a fancy school. Whatever it was must've happened there.
A girl!
Mark my words, this involves a girl!
When a man talks about painful memories, it's always a woman!
We're gonna teach that guy a lesson!
This won't be easy.
That's right!
I know.
We'll teach him how deep and rich the world of wine truly is!
We need a wine that's good enough to change his mind.
We only have a day to go until the tasting.
We tried 500 wines at the school and still came up empty-handed.
There's nothing to worry about.
Chief?
Wine is a mysterious drink.
If you search for it with a heart full of emotion,
it will come to you.
I'm sure you'll find it.
I'm sure of it.
Another bust tonight, huh?
The taste test is tomorrow.
Yeah...
It's rare to see you this down.
It's not like you two.
I guess I should prepare myself to switch jobs...
I can't hand out anything too expensive for free,
but here's a little something to wash away your sadness.
I know. This wine.
It's not highly ranked, but it's said
to rival a Second or Third Growth Médoc.
This '75 is especially good.
Miyabi-chan!
This is amazing!
This is what we've been looking for!
Yeah, this is the one!
I guess it worked.
We can do this, Miyabi-chan!
Yes, I know this wine will free him of his sadness!
So we have a Margaux and a lower-ranked wine that's just as good?
Yes, but it's no mere rival. It has the power to truly move people.
Well, I'll drink before I decide.
They're both from the same great year.
We uncorked them in advance, so they're ready for drinking.
I can't wait.
Margaux goes for tens of thousands of yen per bottle!
You sure love your brand names.
Everyone does!
Now then, let us begin!
Please try the first.
I guess this first glass is okay.
It's good, but it's no Margaux.
I'd be livid to pay tens of thousands for this.
Well, it's just wine.
On to the second.
Wait.
I thought you'd present something better, since you said this rivaled Margaux.
But it doesn't come anywhere close.
This is a waste of my time.
It seems I was right.
You haven't tried the other.
The answer is as clear as day.
This was a pointless exercise.
Let's go, everyone.
Shinohara-san, you're coming with us.
W-Wait!
Takasugi-kun!
Try this wine.
I don't know what sadness befell you,
but I'm confident this wine will wash it away.
Shinohara-san...
I won't change my mind, no matter what wine I drink.
What? It feels like I'm climbing into the heavens...
A pegasus?!
I see myself...
Shinohara-san?
What's wrong, Takasugi?
Why do you look so down?
It's not like you!
That's right! Forget your cares.
Everyone...
What did you see, Division Chief Takasugi?
I rode a pegasus on a journey down memory lane.
I saw my friends smiling and warmly reaching out for me.
A pegasus?
That's a great way to capture it.
I've never had a Margaux like this.
Then let us reveal the wines.
The first was a '75 Château Margaux.
The second, a '75 Château Chasse-Spleen.
It's a Cru Bourgeois ranked below the five Classed Growths
in the Médoc ranking system.
It's not Margaux? It's Cru Bourgeois?
Really?
Yes.
Th-That can't be...
Division Chief Takasugi.
I think you experienced something more than wine itself when you drank it.
This wasn't just alcohol.
It was deeper, more austere, more fragrant, and lusher.
It was like a living thing.
Do you understand now?
A wine's worth isn't determined by its ranking.
Of course, the five great chateaux make quality wine.
But good wine requires heaven, earth, and man.
Lacking a single one can make even a Margaux average.
And when they come together,
even a lower-ranked chateau can produce a wonderful, moving experience.
It's wrong to judge wine on its branding.
I need a moment alone.
Wait, where are you going, sir?
Here you go.
Shinohara-san...
Thank you.
Shinohara-san, was I wrong?
Even if you were, I don't think it's your fault.
The school I transferred to went all the way from elementary school to college,
and it was attended by wealthy families.
So it wasn't easy for an outsider to fit in.
Especially someone from new money like me.
It started with a wristwatch.
A wristwatch?
I was dating a girl there.
I was excited to give her a watch as a birthday present.
I had the money,
but as a high school student, I never thought to get a designer one.
Instead, I did my best to pick out something I thought she'd like.
She took it and seemed happy.
But...
Sorry, Megumi!
You're late!
Hey, that watch...
Yikes, I forgot to take it off.
That's the one from your boyfriend, right?
I mean, I can't walk around town wearing something so cheap.
That's so mean!
It felt like a rejection of my entire life up until that point.
Even the girl I thought was my girlfriend was making fun of me behind my back.
I felt so scared and pathetic...
But to fit in at school, I had to change my perspective.
I worked hard to learn all the fancy brand names and wear them.
That sorrow changed me.
I was made to realize that today.
Hey, do you know what "Chasse-Spleen" means?
No, I've never heard the name before.
It came from the feelings of a French poet who drank it.
"Chasse-Spleen" means...
a farewell to sorrow.
Forget all the sad things
and enjoy your encounter with this wine that may just change your life!
Thank you, Shinohara-san.
Now, we'll ask you to supply our wine list as well as the wines themselves.
Yes, please leave it to us.
We did it!
Of course we did.
We'll show you out, Chief Takasugi.
Kanzaki-san, I think I'm going to learn a lot more about wine.
Oh? Why the change of heart?
It started the moment I drank the Chasse-Spleen.
I'd never doubted my beliefs for a moment,
but one drink changed it all.
You were lucky to meet such a fine glass.
It can change your life.
I won't lose to you, Kanzaki-san.
Whether it's wine...
Or...
Or what?
Nothing. Never mind.
Until we meet again.
You're sure about this?
Yes.
Carry out every last one.
Many of them are delicate.
Move them to the warehouse cellar immediately so they don't spoil.
Yes, sir.
Kobayashi-kun, I have a question about my upcoming schedule.
How many lectures and banquets with wine tastings do I have coming up?
L-Let me see!
There's one almost every day.
Cancel them all.
If I must commit,
then remove the tasting from the lecture.
And for banquets, see to it that something other than wine is served.
B-But that will be difficult on such short notice.
That's fine. If this is what it takes to win...
My enemy has revealed the path to victory.
I must follow it.
Don't think you can best Tomine Issei with beginner's luck.
Victory is already in my grasp!