Sommelière 5

Reserved for Trinity BAKumA. Do not use without my permission.

Page 1
Text: Restaurant L'espoir---
Kana: The menu for today is...
Man: Are you Ms. Itsuki Kana?
le vin #5: The Mystery of Wine

Page 2
Kana: Yes,
I am...
Kana(thought): Why does this person,
Kana(thought): Know my name...
Man: Hahaha! Sorry, how rude of me.
I heard about you from the manager, Mr. Katase.
Man: He said the one who recommended British sparkling wine the other day was you.

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Kana: Ah...
Man: Wonderful! So there are still such amazing wine in the world.
Man: It seems like you are studying hard about brewery.
Man: I came today because I have a favor to ask of you.
Kana: Huh...
Kana: Me!?

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le vin #5: The Mystery of Wine

Page 5
Kenichi: He wants you to look for a wine?
Kana: Yeah...
Kana: He really wants to have another taste of something he drank a long time ago, so he wanted to know if I can help.
Man: I will treat you to dinner.
Kenichi: Oi oi, we're not a cabaret here.
Dates with customers are forbidden.
Kana: It's not a date...
Kenichi: Naah, it's definitely suspicious.
Kenichi: He's going to let you eat and drink,
Kenichi: And then take advantage of you. It's definitely that pattern!

Page 6
Kenichi: You seem to be drunk.
Then let's go rest at this hotel for a bit.
Kenichi: Ihihihi!
Jo: Idiot.
Jo: He's been an honored guest ever since the establishment of this place. As if he'll do that.
Kenichi: But if he's looking for a wine, shouldn't he ask the manager?
Jo: You're only surprised because the young part-timer is knowledgeable.
Jo: Don't mind the restaurant and go help out Mr. Saeki.

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Kana: ...Yes sir.
Saeki: Sorry for the wait.

Page 8
Saeki: Well, get inside.
Kana: ...
Kana: A Rolls-Royce...
But I'm wearing...
Saeki: It's fine, it's fine.
Saeki: So~ What would you like to eat?

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Kana: It doesn't really matter...
Saeki: Fufufu~n(note)
Saeki: First, champagne before the meal.
Kana(thought): Krug Clos Du Mesnil!
Saeki: Have you ever tried it before?
Kana: No way! It's so expensive.
Saeki: Blowfish sushi...
Saeki: Meat would probably be the best for young people.
SFX: *Pour...*

Page 10
Kana: Um...
Kana: That aside, what was the wine you drank a long time ago?
Saeki: Oh, that's right. The wine, huh.
It must have been more than 20 years ago.
Saeki: The flavor...
Saeki: It was thick, oily, and had a complex depth.
TN: Depth of wine refers to its intensity and complexity of taste.
Saeki: And despite all that, it was a fruity...
White wine.
Kana: So it was a white wine?

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Saeki: The shade of color was close to gold, and it gave off a feel of ripeness.
It had a brilliant fragrance, yet a complex, changing thickness.
Kana(thought): A fragrance with a changing thickness...
Saeki: But I don't think it was a particularly famous or expensive wine.
Saeki: If so, I would have remembered the name.
Kana: Do you have any recollection of
The source, the design, or the shape of the bottle?
Saeki: Hey now, don't you know the most important task for us old people?
Saeki: It's to forget.
Saeki: That's why the past always shines gloriously.

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Saeki: Hahaha! This is a complete mystery!
Kana: Did it have a hard feel to it, sort of like tasting minerals?
Saeki: Maybe it did...
Kana: If that is the case, the famous Chablis only uses the Chardonnay grapes with that feel.
Saeki: Chablis you say?
I wonder what you consider delicious.
Kana: Jean Collet is not very well-known,
But I think it is a good wine maker.
Saeki: I see. Kondo.
Kondo: Understood.
Kondo: I will be waiting until you come back.

Page 13
Saeki: How is it? A beautiful garden, isn't it?
Saeki: I see you're still thinking about it.
Kana: Huh?
Kana: Yes, of course.

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Kana: All this...
Saeki: Alright, let's eat!
SFX: *Split*
Saeki: For blow fish sashimi you know,
You should to gather them together like this.
Saeki: Quickly dip them in the sauce,

Page 15
Saeki: And then eating them...with a pounding heart.
Saeki: Woa~h!
Saeki: Now, you should try it.
Kana: I see...
Kana: But what about the wine?
Saeki: Hm~~ This one is very nice too...
Saeki: But, let's see...
Saeki: The sourness of kabozu adds to the deep flavor of the roes,
Saeki: Almost like adding in the aroma of sake.

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Kana: Huh?
Saeki: It's fine, just give it a try.
Kana: ...
Kana: How about traces of grapefruit or summer grass herbs?
Kana: Sauvignon brandies would be good in that case.
Kana: For wine, there is Loire's Pouilly Fume, or Sancerre.
Saeki: Sancerre...
Hm, it does feel like it could be something like that.
Saeki: Well then, let's open up a bottle of Sancerre tomorrow.

Page 17
Text: The next day---
Saeki: Go ahead, order anything you like.
Kana: But...
Saeki: Chef, keep on serving her anything that's good.
Kana: How about that Sancerre?
Saeki: Maybe Sancerre is the closest to what I'm looking for.
And it has a moderate price too.
Saeki: But it still feels like there's...

Page 18
Saeki: Chef, what is this?
Man: It's konowata,
The entrails of sea cucumber.
Saeki: I see!
Saeki: With this, the scent of sweetfish after eating seaweed...
Or rather, it gives a distinct ethnic aroma...
Kana: If you are looking for something with a distinct aroma, it would be Viognier grapes.
Kana: Condrieu is a famous wine fitting that description...

Page 19
Text: The next day---
Saeki: Oh yeah, I guess you have never seen a shark fin this big.
Before they dry it, it's thi~~~~~s size.
Saeki: Ah, that was a lie.
Kana: ...
Kana: Um...rather than that, how is Condrieu?
Saeki: Delicious.
It has a great depth and a fragrance that is unexpected from a white wine.
Saeki: But you know, this place is also famous for its dried abalone.
Saeki: Their regular wine is good, but they also have good Shaoxing wine.

Page 20
Saeki: Oh, let's have another drink later today at the hotel bar...
Kana: N-
Kana: No!
Saeki: ?
Kenichi: Naaah, it's definitely suspicious.
Kenichi: He's going to let you eat and drink...
Kana: Please stop it!
Kana: Are you really looking for a wine?
Kana: It seems like you are just trying to string me along!

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Saeki: ...I am.
Saeki: Perhaps you just haven't realized it.
Kana(thought): I...haven't realized it!?
Saeki: In the restaurant, do you specialize in wine services,
Saeki: So in other words, a sommeliere?
Kana: ...No, it is true that I work there,
Kana: But I have actually never studied how to serve wine.
Saeki: Then maybe that's why you don't understand.
The only think you're thinking about is wine.
Kana(thought): ...!

Page 22
Jo: You were only looking at the wine,
While I was looking at the person who drinks it.
Jo: ...That's the difference.
Saeki: For wine, no matter how wonderful it is...
Saeki: Rather than what to drink,
Saeki: Don't you think who to drink with is more important?
Saeki: I believe that wine is something to share with others.
Saeki: Along with a person's happiness, sorrow, love, or hatred.

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Kana: Did you drink the wine you are looking for together with someone?
Saeki: Back then...
Saeki: Although it's really long ago now.
Saeki: Just during the period when I was most into wine,
Saeki: I happened to be acquainted with a young wine importer.
Man: Can you determine this white wine by blind tasting?
Man: Just the grape variety is fine.
Saeki: What a punk,
Saeki: To think that I wouldn't even correctly guess the grapes.
Saeki: I have invested much time and money into wines you know.

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Man: Wine...is not something that can be bought with just money and time.
Man: The most important thing is love.
Saeki: He said this:
"You must have love for mother nature..."
Saeki: "And the respect for the brewers".
Kana: I'm sorry, I too...
Kana: Felt that way.

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Saeki: The wine I'm looking for is the one I drank with him that day.
He always brought slightly strange ones, and loved to surprised the chefs at Ginza with them.
Kana(thought): Strange wines...surprising others...
Saeki: Now, that's all the hints I can give you.
Kana(thought): I see.
Kana(thought): That's what this was about...
Kana: I understand now.
Kana: I will be waiting in the restaurant at 7pm tomorrow.

Page 26
Text: The next day---
Kana: Here you are...
Saeki: Ho, this must be the one I was looking for?
Saeki: I wonder why I think that.

Page 27
Kana: That is because this is California's Conundrum.
Kana: There are many wines that use a variety of grapes,
Kana: This wine has created its own unique image,
And is known for using many types of grapes.
Kana: The ones used are Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, and Viognier.
Kana: I believe that it why it is impossible to determine the grape variety by blind tasting.
Kana: "Do you understand my true nature?"
Perhaps that is a challenge from the wine to its drinkers.

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Kana: That is why the name is...
Kana: Conundrum, which means riddle.
Saeki: Correct!
Saeki: Even though the name is a riddle,
Saeki: The taste is so wonderful that almost everyone can understand.
Kana: In that case, please tell me.

Page 29
Kana: Why did you treat me to all the food for a wine that costs about 3000 yen?
Kana: In reality, you were not looking for the wine,
Kana: But to give me hints to solve this mystery.
Kana: Why did you play that kind of game?
Saeki: You saw right through me!
Saeki: Yes, a random game played by an elderly man.
But it was very fun.

Page 30
Kana: Saeki...
Junichiro.
Kana: Your initials are,
J.S.
Kana: ...Are you...
Kana: Are you my benefactor, Mr. John Smith?

Page 31
Saeki: What are you talking about?
Kana: No...
Kana: It is nothing.
Kana: Then why did you...

Page 32
Saeki: It's not only you.
Saeki: If people open up their hearts, you will not be alone no matter where you are.
Someone will hlep you.
Saeki: If you ever need help, come and talk to me.
Saeki: Next time, I will show you my prided wine cellar.
Kana: ...Thank you very much.
Saeki: You will become a good sommeliere.

Page 33
Jo: Are you happy with this?
Saeki: Yeah.
Saeki: Who I am... Perhaps it's better to let it remain a mystery for now for her sake.
Jo: Although,
As a sommeliere, she's still only half-baked.
Saeki: Yes. She forgot something.
Saeki: Conundrum's first vintage was 1989.

Page 34
Saeki: So there's no way I could have had it 20 years ago.
Saeki: ...With her father.
Jo: Did she talk about her father?
Saeki: Not at all...
Kana: I'm sorry, I too...
Kana: Felt the same way.
Saeki: Although, I see that she has received the most important feelings of being a sommeliere.

Page 35
Saeki: ...That is, the love for wine.
Kana: I wanted work that has something to do with wine,
But I never thought about it.
Kana: A sommeliere, huh.

Page 36
Conundrum
It is a white wine produced by the Wagner family from the Caymus Vineyard. They are a leading producer of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in California.
The name Conundrum has the meaning of "riddle", and it implies the question of "can you guess the variety of grapes in this white wine?" to the consumers. The answer is Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Semillon, Muscat Canelli, among others.
Conundrum can also mean "a difficult problem". With refined aroma from the Viognier, it has a very rich sour taste that one does not get tired of.
The wine makes one think that "perhaps the maker wanted to have the high quality taste of Viognier be available for a mid-price range". Viognier is expensive and hard to come by for ones of high quality (it goes for about 240 yen per kilogram in California), so Conundrum blends it together with an abundance of other grape varieties and creates something with similar taste is roughly one-third of the price.
The disadvantage of using Viognier is that because the acidity is low with slightly higher alcohol concentration, it has a dull taste. Rather than having it blended with fully ripened Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, they are trying to overcome this problem. This wine is meant to be consumed soon after purchase.

(Photo curtesy of California Wine Trading. The 2005 vintage sells for about 3500 yen.)