The Drops of God (神の雫)

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.