Let's see what's so special about this wine.
A blend of Schiava and Pinot Noir.
Its freshness comes from a limestone soil which is as cold as marble.
But...
But?
I can't taste any peach, quince or jasmine.
I have no idea what this "link" is about.
I would have been incapable.
I really don't know how Camille did it.
In truth, I feel a bit overwhelmed.
She scares you?
Yes.
She seems to be able to sense things that I don't understand.
It's in her nature.
Well, I think you need to be free and relax a bit.
I see.
Yes.
An orchard during springtime.
The sun and many flowers.
Peach, quince and jasmine.
I lift up a stone,
and I find the link.
The unbreakable bond of love.
Filial love,
romantic love.
Every kind of love is here.
Yes.
Of course, it's obvious.
Casa dei Fossati.
You see, it's not complicated.
Make an effort.
You're weird.
- Hey. - Hey.
We just finished our shift and thought we might...
Luca told us you're no longer welcome at his place, so here we are.
Come on in.
- In the back. - Okay.
I heard everything.
He's a piece of shit.
He'd kill me if he knew that I'm telling you this, but...
whatever.
I know this from my dad.
Luca, over the last few years--
He's been buying vineyards all over the world for nothing.
Then, when the properties appear in the guide, well,
their value just goes up and up, and my uncle makes tons of money.
Wait, the properties appear in the guide?
Yep. My uncle has a 45% stake in the guide.
He bought it from Fusier.
Nobody knows that.
So he can actually decide which wines appear in the guide or not.
Yes.
That's fucking illegal.
And he knows that the Léger Guide without a Léger...
Well, not as sexy.
That's why he pulled out the red carpet for you, Camille.
To keep bringing in the money.
Elisabetta was right.
The guide is poison. It does no good to anyone.
You were right to say no.
Why didn't you tell me this before?
It's my uncle.
He's the only one who helped me when my father kicked me out.
What about my father?
Did he know?
No idea.
I swear.
I never heard him talk about money with Luca.
Okay.
Well,
thank you for coming anyway.
Let's drink to your victory, eh?
Yeah.
That's a pop.
It's champagne. Whatever.
Thanks.
I have to leave tomorrow for my last test.
Cheers, I guess?
Yeah.
Philippe?
Yes?
There is someone here for you.
- What does he want? - I don't know.
He wants to speak to you in private.
So what's the matter?
Are you Philippe Chassangre?
Yes.
I have a letter for you. It is from Mr. Léger.
Do you accept this?
Yes.
Even dead, he's still a pain in the ass.
Damn it!
Mom? What are you doing here?
If you'd answer my calls,
I wouldn't have had to come here.
What do you want?
Hello, young lady.
You're prettier in person than on TV.
You look less vulgar.
I'll leave you with your charming mother.
I'll wait for you next door.
I heard that you lost the second test today.
There's still time to do the right thing.
But it's your last chance.
Apologize to your grandfather.
Apologize?
Why?
So that our family can get back in order.
Did you love your husband?
I don't have to answer that question.
You had an affair with your professor, Alexandre Léger,
when you were a student, and you got pregnant.
Whether he left you or you left him, I don't know.
Anyway, you took advantage of your friend,
Hirokazu, who loved you, just to save face.
I don't know if you ever even loved him at all.
Or me.
That's enough.
I came here to help you,
but it seems like it's none of my business.
This apartment belongs to me.
I want you to leave.
Did you hear me?
Get out!
I feel sorry for you.
When I look at you, it's painful.
One last thing.
He's alive.
But I suppose you're not interested.
Would you like to come with me?
No, I can't. I have to work.
You should go without me.
I'm so sorry I put you through all this.
Did it make you feel better to let it all out?
Wine is never to be drunk alone.
Do you know why?
When you share it, it creates a link.
A bond.
This place, this wine, the two of us...
It brings us together for the rest of our lives.
In 20, 30, 50 years...
this moment will remain in our memories forever.
So, to this moment.
To this wine.
To us.
I'M HERE
I'M LEAVING TOKYO FOR PARIS
Would you like a glass of champagne?
No, thank you.
GOOD LUCK
Thank you for flying with us.
Sir, would you like a glass of champagne?
Thank you.
I want to apologize.
I was arrogant. I--
I need to sleep. I have a test to win tomorrow.
Wow.
- Hello. This way, please. - Hello.
Hello.
Thank you.
Where is he taking my bags?
You'll find them in your bedroom.
Here are your keys. Have a great stay.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
Seventh floor.
ISSEI
- Hello. - Hey.
- May I ask you something? - Sure.
Have you seen this man?
He only stayed here for a few days.
And then?
Miss Léger, Mr. Tomine,
please follow me.
I must warn you that what comes next is a bit special.
I want to clarify that I was not in charge of organizing the event.
My role is to verify that procedures are correctly followed.
I would've opted for a little more sobriety.
Excuse me.
- Thank you. - Good luck.
Hello. Let me introduce myself.
I'm Benjamin Keller.
I'm a journalist, and I've been asked to present today's test.
Really exciting, isn't it?
Right. Which is Issei? Which is Camille?
No, I'm joking. Relax.
Everything will be fine.
Follow me. I'll take you to your seats.
- I have a question. - Yeah?
Yeah, me too.
What's all this shit?
I know. It's great, isn't it?
You're here.
Hello, everyone,
and welcome.
We're about to take part in an exceptional event.
This decisive test is between Issei Tomine and Camille Léger.
The stakes:
Alexandre Léger's inheritance, or more specifically,
his collection of 87,000 exceptional bottles of wine,
the biggest and most prestigious wine cellar in the world.
Alexandre Léger devised three rounds for this ultimate test.
Two will take place here in this wonderful setting.
The third will take place in a more...
confidential setting.
But first of all,
I would like to thank the Fusier Publishing House
who organized this prestigious event.
Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome Mr. Luca Inglese,
Alexandre Léger's loyal friend and co-director of the Léger Guide.
Hello, everyone.
I had the privilege of being by Alexandre's side until the end.
He was obsessed by one question.
Who would take up the torch after he's gone?
Who would be capable of ensuring that his creation would live on?
Death didn't give him time to answer this question.
This is why
Jacques Fusier and I came up with
an idea which... I believe would have pleased him.
The one who wins this test will be the chosen one,
and in our eyes, Alexandre's legitimate successor.
We will therefore offer the winner of this ultimate test
the chance to lead the Léger Guide.
He or she will become editor-in-chief.
He or she will have complete authority.
We will blindly trust in their instinct, talent and choices.
Because let's not forget:
the Léger Guide is not just a name.
Above all else,
it is an ethos.
Thank you.
Beside Luca Inglese,
our distinguished jury will consist of Flor Peres,
the three-starred restaurant chef...
Good luck.
...and Anthony Norton, voted best sommelier in the world in 2019.
And now, for the first round,
we have a series of wine general knowledge questions.
Ready?
Which of these grape varieties is not authorized in Champagne?
Arbanne, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, César.
César.
César is the right answer.
Again, in Champagne,
how many villages are classified premier cru?
Forty-two.
Right answer.
There are 42 premier crus in Champagne, as well as 17 grand crus.
Which bottle was the top-ranking bottle in the first Léger Guide in 1993?
Meursault Premier Cru Les Perrières, Domaine Leroy, 1973.
Correct answer.
Which bottle chosen by Alexandre is systematically served
at the Élysée at diplomatic dinners with the German chancellors?
An Alsace Gewurztraminer Fronholz late harvest wine, Domaine Ostertag, 1997.
No.
An Egon Müller...
Scharzhofberger Trockenbeerenauslese, 1991.
Correct.
Where is the Walla Walla Valley located?
- United States. - Correct.
Which is the dominant grape variety in the Barolo appellation?
- Nebbiolo. - Correct.
Along which river and which riverbank does the Canon-Fronsac AOP lie?
Dordogne.
Right Bank.
Correct answer.
Which grape represents about 95% of famous wine?
Cabernet.
Correct answer.
Follow me, please. Your lunch is waiting for you.
What now?
Congratulations.
You were brilliant. Of course.
Thank you.
But that's all theory. Academic.
I can't wait for the next round.
Seriously?
We are so different.
Sorry about this little staging.
I would like to welcome you to the next part of the contest.
This is a food and wine matching test.
You now have to find the wines that pair up with each meal.
The restaurant cellar will be open to you.
I imagined a meal for you.
Inspired by my numerous encounters with Alexandre Léger.
This menu reflects his taste.
First dish.
Scallop carpaccio, pig's trotters, and Pantelleria capers
with a citrus sauce vierge.
Enjoy.
For the first course,
I thought about the way the food was prepared.
Raw scallops taste of iodine,
and the pork fat highlights the subtlety
between the sea breeze and an earthy wind.
I see a vineyard coming from ancient Greece.
The beautiful island of Santorini.
I chose an Assyrtiko, 2015.
I'm a 29-year-old writer who still lives with her mother.
Her cooking is...
simple.
Thanks, Mom.
So a cuisine that...
blends land and sea seems weird to me, almost contradictory.
But then I tasted this wonderful dish.
This dish creates a paradoxical harmony.
Delicate, yet strong.
It made me think of the thousand-year-old Georgian vineyards.
The orange wine produced there is a paradox in itself.
So my first pairing is a Ramaz Nikoladze, 1998,
from Titska and Tsolikouri grape varieties.
Camille?
Are you okay?
Yeah. It's great.
Just intense.
I'm not used to this kind of food.
Lobster represents excellence.
A delicately cooked crustacean requires a preeminent white wine
to enhance its elegant flesh.
The hundred-year-old vineyard from the region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape,
Château de Beaucastel, produces such a wine:
Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, 2005.
For me...
this is the perfect match.
The few memories I have of my father...
are related to food and wine.
I do remember
that when he prepared lobster, he would say,
"Lobster is blue, but once cooked, it becomes red like red wine."
And then I asked myself, which red wine will amplify the flavors
of both the lobster and the porcini mushroom tart?
It led me to think of the Mataro grape variety
found in the sandy terroirs of California.
The San Benito County Sandlands Mataro, 2015.
The gentle black currant touch of this wine transmutes
and becomes a dried porcini mushroom flavor
once the wine is decanted.
Such a wine speaks to us of both spring and fall,
the passing of seasons,
the passing of time.
Very nice choice of wine, Mr. Tomine.
As for you, the wine in itself is remarkable,
but your combination of flavors is not clear.
Your story about the red color, passing time,
that means nothing to me.
I am a bit disappointed.
A pavlova.
For this dessert,
I'll propose a rosé champagne.
I've chosen a Fleur de Miraval.
This is a blend of Chardonnays of various ages.
Fresh and fruity wines stemming from the Montagne de Reims,
mixed with an infinite, virtuous circle,
and also reserve wines aged 15 years and over.
The palate is tonic, sharp and salty...
Your turn, Issei.
You're going to lose.
I know why you wanted me to take over the guide.
And you know what?
Fuck you.
Obviously.
What do you want?
I was wrong to cut off communication between you and your dad.
It was a stupid mistake. I was afraid of losing you,
but in the end...
Please forgive me.
I'm going to need some time.
Of course.
Except that it seems I don't have much time left,
according to the doctors.
What?
Mom?
I'm kidding!
I just wanted to see if you still loved me.
That's not funny at all.
Camille,
I'm so proud of what you're doing.
No matter what, I will be there.
Whatever you wish for, be it near or far, I'll be there.
You're my daughter.
No!
I said no!
I can't believe this.
What?
Meeting in front of the hotel in 15 minutes, miss.
A minibus is waiting for you.
The third round is about to begin.
What?
I didn't expect to see you so soon!
Neither did I.
I apologize in advance.
Welcome to your living quarters.
This is where you'll be staying during the test.
Normally, this is where the seasonal workers stay.
On the table, there is a mystery bottle
selected by Alexandre Léger himself.
This bottle comes from the domaine, but neither Philippe,
nor Thomas Chassangre, here present, know the details.
So, they won't be able to help you.
Moreover, in order to guarantee their impartiality,
it is strictly prohibited for them to speak to both of you
until the test is over.
You'll be trying this wine. You'll identify it
and you will reproduce it.
How?
Until 6:00 p.m. tomorrow, you'll have access to the whole property,
and in particular, to the winery.
The Chassangre estate has carefully kept numerous bottles of grape varieties
that haven't been blended.
You'll be authorized to pick among these
in order to reconstitute the wine you tasted as closely as you can.
The wine that you have blended yourselves will be blind-tasted by Mr. Chassangre
who will give a score to each attempt.
This score will be added to those of the two Paris tests
and the final tally will be completed in Japan on our return.
At which point, we'll be able to declare the winner.
Any questions?
Then we can get started.
Mr. Tomine!
The winery is the other way!
Tomine, huh?
I had clients, a long time ago, with the name "Tomine."
The young man comes from a great Japanese family.
By "great family," I mean a great fortune.
Sorry to ask you this,
but do you have anything to eat? I'm starving. You have no idea.
Yes, I have.
Come with me.
I know you're here.
I know that technically you can't speak to me,
but I can.
You're handsome.
I think the mystery wine is
a Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 1990.
Which grape variety? Easy. We know that there are 13.
Grenache, Mourvèdre, Vaccarèse, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Clairette,
Piquepoul, Picardan, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Syrah, Counoise, Cinsault.
Now, using what ratio? If I don't use the exact ratio,
it would not be a Châteauneuf-du-Pape anymore.
It looks like an equation with 13 unknown elements,
and I am terrible at math.
And I'm talking to myself. Great.
You're wrong about me.
The Italian wine.
Tell me how you found it.
Thirty years ago,
my parents were students.
They had your father as a teacher.
They knew each other very well.
I accidently found Alexandre's old classes.
He used Fede Galizia's painting.
The wine was already mentioned there.
So I was just lucky.
Very lucky.
Hey, did you find it?
You want to make sure I'm on the wrong track?
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 1990.
I have no doubt you've found it.
What you've managed to do in such a short time is incredible.
How did you do it?
I have nothing to do with it.
My...
talent is only down to my genes.
Genes?
Okay.
I see them appear in front of me.
Even when I was a kid.
The wine aromas?
If I focus on them,
I can see them.
Sometimes, it's just colors
or even sounds.
Musical notes.
I do nothing special. It's instinctive.
In my case,
there is nothing instinctive.
Everything is thought through,
considered,
analyzed.
So, you have a superpower.
Yay!
Super Camille.
I'm going to bed.
I'm exhausted.
- See you tomorrow? - Yeah.