Wine Pairing: Chateau Musar Aana, Lebanon, 2019
It’s been six weeks since a comment on Kami no Shizuku, and I can’t say that surprises me on any level. Given the premise and the budget and pacing, I would expect no different. It’s always more fun to cover shows that get some discussion so that’s a shame, even if not unexpected. As for this week’s pairing it’s a really fascinating one – my first Lebanese wine, though I’ve been curious about them for ages. It’s the the second label red from the legendary Chateau Musar, synonymous with Lebanese wine for some even if it goes well beyond them. A beautiful and interesting wine – mineral, a bit salty, tons of bright fruit and spice with a strongly acidic backbone.
As for The Drops of God, I would absolutely contend that this show is very underrated. It’s obvious that they’re rushing through the manga and the production itself is wholly unexceptional. But it’s a really interesting story with a deep and abiding love of wine (if a fixation on French reds). And it’s ridiculous in a very appealing way. But this was one of the least ridiculous episodes so far, and one of my favorites. The whole idea of a “found” cellar full of mystery bottles is a fascinating premise for any wine junkie. And I love the stories that focus on Issei and Shizuku working together.
Indeed, my suspicion that this was the real story of Kami no Shizuku was clearly on-point. The two step-brothers are growing to respect each other, realizing that each has strengths the other lacks. And that each of them loved Yutaka – a difficult, complicated man but a father to them both just the same. And of course the essence of this is that the whole “Apostles” contest is a pretext to bring the two of them together – Yutaka’s real last will and testament. He had two sons who were strangers, and he wanted to make them brothers using that which he loved and treasured – wine. That’s really a beautiful notion when you think about it.
It’s Robert who makes the key suggestion of the episode. If Issei and Shizuku are going to split up and put their strengths to use in the detective work, they ought to swap partners too. Miyabi’s organization and meticulous sense of detail could help Issei, and Loulan and Shizuku can put their prodigy’s palates together to help identify the contents of the cellar. Naturally the two new pairings find much to bond over, each brother coming to understand why the other relies on their partner. But Issei is an inveterate hound (he seems to have inherited that from Yutaka, even if they aren’t related genetically) and can’t help putting the moves on Miyabi. From a business perspective, at least.
As for the wines, once the first bottle identified turns out to be a Petrus it’s clear the cellar’s owner was playing in the big leagues. From a practical standpoint the personnel involved here are critical. If Issei is the appraiser the value of the collection skyrockets, even with dubious provenance. And if Robert vouches for the contents he can get new labels and capsules from the wineries involved. Among the gems in the cellar of dozens of Pape-Clement from the 1960’s. Pape-Clement – a red Bordeaux, shocking I know, though they also makes a revered blanc – might be past its prime at that age, but it’s still a fascinating experience that Isssei shares with Miyabi-chan (all part of the seduction – from a business perspective, at least).
Some of the wild blueberry metaphor stuff was a little over the top, but overall this ep works beautifully as a concept. Caretaker Murakoshi is emotional to see the boys working together, though Robert is skeptical that the love will last. Miyabi is tempted by Issei’s official offer, but in the end I’m sure her loyalty is to Shizuku (from a business perspective, at least). We even get a white wine cameo – a Japanese wine Shizuku buys for Honma-san (about on-point for how much respect whites get here). The next contest sees a change of venue, to a villa in the shadow of Mount Fuji – one Yutaka used for some of his many trysts, it seems. What’s the connection to Shizuku and Issei – and their mothers?
