Original subtitles

You're an animal!

But, papa, I want to marry her.

You will not. Her father was mad as a dog.

The chateau wine not good enough for you, jodeau?

We can do better.

Have you ever had better?

A bottle of the reserve for our young friend.

Let's see if it meets with his approval.

How does it taste? Common.

Like a pretty girl in a vulgar dress.

Mmm. Mm. I could learn.

To gamble.

To be your chief winemaker.

You slept.

No, not a faint. You were properly asleep.

You're drunk.

My father refuses to let me marry.

Why is that?

Her father was mad.

Barked like a dog.

At the moon, or at people he didn't like?

What's her name?

Celeste.

Yours?

Our grapes.

We sell them to the chateau.

It could be better.

It's a peasant's drink. And nothing more.

The land's ours. But the chateau still controls it.

We should be making our own wine.

You should plant higher, all along this Ridge.

We've tried. Nothing grows.

Meet me back here in a year.

Am I going to die?

I hope not.

I've something for you and I want to know what happens with Celeste.

But don't you know everything already?

How could I know what hasn't happened yet?

Tell her how you feel.

And on this night next year,

maybe we'll toast your marriage.

“Dear Celeste,

“I write to you in the hope that you might know me better

“and that you will allow me to know you.

“Because to know you,

“every part of you,

“is all I desire.”

Man: Facta sustentationi nostrae tradita sunt,

respice, quaesumus, humilitatem nostram,

et sicut nostris iaboribus et iargiri digneris,

ut cum gratiarum actione

nomen sanctum tuum iaudetur et glorificetur.

Qui vivis et regnas cum deo patre.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti. Amen.

A sorcerer charmed my father before he died.

Gave him the dog's voice.

Woof! Woof!

And the dog?

He never barked again.

Was anybody else afflicted?

How could they be? The sorcerer has gone now.

Sobran, he speaks.

You smell like snow.

High altitudes.

So? Are we celebrating?

Twice.

I'm married. And she's pregnant.

And I planted some vines.

But look.

It's possible, I tell you.

What is this?

Made by Italian monks.

Grown on a Ridge exactly like this.

I can taste it.

Heat. Chalk.

You're tasting the place — What grows there, the animals there,

it's in the wine, but it starts with the soil.

Try it.

That's what they do.

The monks, they eat the dirt?

They do. Every few paces.

Try it.

Chalk.

Now try over there.

It's different here.

Metal, copper.

Think about the tastes you want and add them to the earth.

But the soil is no good. You don't need rich soil.

Not for grapes.

Poor soil means minerals, stone, taste, flavour.

But the plant will have to fight for it,

struggle to get what it needs.

And it's that effort and yours that will show in the character of the wine.

Try these.

They're from my garden.

They don't look like much,

but they do seem to thrive in difficult places.

How long will it take?

To make a great wine?

Might take a lifetime.

I have a proposition for you.

A meeting, here, one night a year for the rest of your life.

The rest of my life?

Is it bad luck to fail you?

I'm not trying to sell you a sick pig, sobran.

If I bargain like a peasant, it's because I am one.

Only because you think like one.

That can change if you're willing.

You want to make a great wine,

a wine that's yours.

A wine that's never been tasted.

See? You have the desire. And the land.

And now you have the plants.

And I have you.

That's true.

But I know nothing about luck, sobran.

And I'm not offering rewards or punishments, so don't promise.

Just come.

Monsieur.

Monsieur.

We're picking too soon.

If you want to wait,

go back to those miserable vines you put on the Ridge.

That should satisfy.

Taste them. They're not ready.

The sky is clear.

Just taste them.

The seeds are still bitter.

Even one more day will make a difference.

Or I could lose the whole crop.

Leave my slope then.

I'll take the risk.

And your father? What will he do for bread if you are wrong?

I've known that Ridge longer than you, my friend.

I admire your spirit. But I won't ruin your father.

Pick the jodeau slope.

Man: Come with us. Join the army. France needs you.

Now it rains.

I could have waited a week.

Two weeks.

You couldn't be sure.

No, I was sure.

And I was right.

If you think like a peasant, you will stay one, Celeste.

I want more for us.

All we need is some money to make our start.

Napoleon will give us our chance.

Don't worry.

I'll be back before this one's born.

God's luck is on my side.

Papa!

It's gone bad.

Help me.

Arggh!

Sabine. It's your father.

Where is papa?

Where were you?

I was here, as we'd agreed.

Why didn't you tell me not to go?

Would that have made a difference? You're supposed to protect me.

You spoke as if you knew what was best for me.

Has what's happened not been for the best?

My father died in these vines.

Killed him,

tending this land and the chateau.

Celeste tried, but...

Why didn't you help them?

Your father would have died with you as without you.

Celeste accepted your wish to leave.

She didn't expect my protection.

Why would she? Why would you?

Because you're an angel!

If you don't protect me, then why are you here?

I wonder how it is. It all depends.

How it travels. How it's kept.

This one waited two years.

Could be better, could be worse.

Time's done you a favour.

Now show me your best.

I want to know everything about sobran jodeau.

Anything you want to tell me.

Her name is Nicolette.

She's all my joy since the war.

Try it.

I can taste it, the maker.

Interesting man. Palestinian.

Ferments his wine in Clay jars.

No, not just that.

Him. How he lives.

How he thinks. How he cooks for his children.

His life in the wine.

And his risk.

Would you have me protect you from that?

Would you want that for her?

To protect her from harm.

From hurt.

Of course I want that.

Did my father feel that when I marched away?

When he died not knowing whether I was dead or alive?

I prayed he didn't.

Whatever he felt, he let you choose.

It's in your hands, sobran.

The life you live,

the wine you make.

I won't miss another meeting.

And build a cellar. You're going to need one.

Madame, I am here to speak with your husband.

Well...

Perhaps when he's free,

could you ask him to come and see me?

Ah, jodeau.

There you are.

Are you ready to talk business?

My grapes are not for sale.

I'm making my own wine.

Once you taste it, you won't doubt me again.

Come the day, jodeau, I'll gladly share a glass with you.

I only hope I will live to see it.

But we've no money.

Not now.

But soon we will.

We will.

Our first vintage.

I taste conception.

A son, with any luck.

The first of many, I'm sure.

It's good.

Taste it. It's ours. The 1815.

Sobran, no! Don't you want to be successful?

Fine clothes for that beautiful body?

Huh?

But what are we supposed to eat?

We spent everything on the cellar.

And the cellar will profit. I promise.

Hey, Nicolette.

Oh.

What do you taste? Hmm?

Hup.

Hup.

Careful!

I missed you so much.

My niece.

Baroness Aurora valday.

His father was one of my workers.

Although he is my competitor, it would seem.

Taste it now.

Then again in six months.

A gift for you, baroness.

Bored already? I never should have let you study in Paris.

It was a convent, uncle, hardly a temple of higher learning.

Not that it stopped you. Come.

Let's toast this new-fashioned knowledge of yours.

T'aetee like dirt.

You have to be patient with wine, Aurora.

And with people.

Is he an important man in aluze?

Why? Have you taken a dislike to him?

I'm sure I don't feel the need to go so far as forming a dislike.

He's what passes for a man of substance round here.

If you're going to inherit the estate,

you'd do well to cultivate a relationship with jodeau.

'If' I'm to inherit the estate?

My dear, am I mistaken?

I thought you had no intention of marrying again.

Dearest girl, I know you'll miss him,

but a man is not all there is to love.

Maybe you'll be happy here.

Have you heard from the Marquis?

You know I haven't.

You're warm.

I'm hungry.

But maybe the children would like to eat dirt.

Give them mine.

Fetch the priest.

Priest: Nicoletta, ego baptiso te in nomine patris

et filii et spiritus sancti.

Amen.

Papa?

Is it because she saw the angel?

No, sabine.

Angels protect.

Nicolette.

Nicolette.

Yarggh!

I want you to find her. Find her in heaven.

I can't.

Find her.

Tell me next year how she is.

You're asking too much.

It won't make you happy.

If you love me you'll do it.

Take off your petticoat.

And sabine's.

There will be frost tonight.

We'll keep them warm. Day and night.

I won't lose these vines.

Ah, jodeau!

Still persisting with these useless plants?

How much do you want for the 1815?

And the rest of what you've got on reserve?

It's not for sale.

Six bottles.

And you buy the glass.

Six bottles. And this year's vintage we'll take for the tavern.

My niece will oversee the transaction.

And now you must both excuse me, for...

I have business with the lord.

A couple of heretics like yourselves should have much to discuss

while the good people of aluze are in church.

Why do you bother?

These plants need everything they can get.

Even their own ash.

Se the eleee! Are reeem.

Very romantic.

Oh, god. How thoughtless.

Er... please forgive me.

Meeeieur jeeeeu.

I am truly sorry for the loss of your daughter.

She's with god.

It amuses you, baroness?

No. I suppose I did not presume you to be a god-fearing man.

You don't believe in god?

The vengeful god with a white beard?

With punishment looming over our heads

and then the joy that will solve everything including death?

No, I don't believe in that.

I choose to put my faith in the facts.

Although it would have me tried as a heretic in these parts.

Much as it entertains you, baroness,

you will find that people here believe because they need to.

It's all they have.

Excuse me.

And you, monsieur jodeau?

What is it you believe in?

My experience.

Well, experience is the one thing I do not have, monsieur,

so I expect that makes us equal.

Might I walk with you?

Who are you thinking of?

No-one.

Why am I not enough for you?

You are.

Then where do you go? And who do you go to?

Allow me this one night.

I will give you the world.

You and the children.

I promise.

Nicolette's vintage.

It tastes like sorrow.

You have the finest palate in the district.

Regret.

Guilt.

Did you see her?

She feels no pain, sobran.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Why?

You take away my pain.

But your pain's essential.

Don't leave me!

Life has pain as well as pleasure.

Aurora: You need a doctor, not a priest.

I need what gives me comfort.

He's highly regarded.

Verifying miracles and diagnosing hysterical women.

He responds to the needs of the people.

As you will need to.

Now is no time to quarrel with an old man.

Employ jodeau.

He has his father's knowledge, and, I swear, divine inspiration.

Employ him.

Just don't fall in love with him.

Please.

He was a good man.

I don't know which is worse...

Having many loved ones to lose or just the one.

Man: Baroness. Time is passing.

Please forgive me. I must settle my affairs.

Or rather, these gentlemen must do it for me.

Would you accompany me to the library?

There's a matter I'd like to discuss with you.

Yours, I believe.

May I?

To my uncle.

Tell me what's good about it.

It was my first.

And my best.

It tastes of promise.

The promise of what?

A better wine.

Better than this one.

Better than anything the chateau's produced.

And you believe you could make such a wine?

It's possible. But not certain.

Why not?

Baroness,

making wine is not a rational business.

The thought behind it.

The time it takes.

The way the sun moves.

You can't force a wine any more than you can a child.

You have seasons that are disasters.

And then, all of a sudden...

A miracle.

A taste that... That's many things at once.

Was there joy that year?

Loss.

You can taste it in the wine.

Do you propose to make your own wine, baroness?

I rather hoped you'd make it with me.

If I'm going to keep the chateau, I'm going to need some help.

I'd like to propose that you manage the estate as well as your own.

You may work here if you need to.

Is this your uncle's wish?

I'm going to try not to fail him completely.

It's a bit musty, of course.

And be careful here. One wouldn't want to fall.

I hope this arrangement will suit us both, monsieur.

A few more days.

Then we press? Of course.

Put a third of them back.

The stems. Put them back.

You risk ruining the wine.

I'll take that risk.

A third of the stems.

Aurora: This is unorthodox. Your methods are untested.

Yes. My methods may fail.

The slopes will be pressed separately...

The wine reserved for two or more years.

In oak barrels, not vats.

If it's good, we bottle it. All of it.

It will be expensive. It's a risk.

We fail. But if we succeed... If we succeed?

We make the greatest wine France has ever produced.

The chateau will take its place in history.

I will agree to your conditions.

If you will agree to mine.

I wish to be your partner.

I want you to teach me everything you know.

If you do so, then you will have my full support.

Cassis. Citrus.

No. No.

Anyone can learn to taste fruit.

Anyone.

Think about the taste.

You're an intelligent woman, baroness.

Maybe too intelligent.

Deny your intellect and tell me what you taste.

I don't know.

Your eyes won't help you.

But I don't...

I don't know how to explain it.

Tell me what you feel.

Tell me what you feel.

What sort of skin?

Mmm...

It's coarse, but smooth also.

What else?

A little pain.

Effort.

Dirt and sweat.

Tell me what you taste.

It's the same!

What else? Dirt.

Desperation.

You!

It tastes like you.

Yes.

Oh! Oh!

To our next vintage.

Can't you just see their faces?

A lady negotiant, a peasant vintner and a wine inspired by...

An angel.

The 1825. My latest wine for the chateau.

Cinnamon. Velvet. Tobacco.

It suits you.

I'm a lucky man.

When I met you I was just a peasant.

Now look at me.

Look at my wife, my children.

My vineyard.

The chateau's.

Those who used to patronise me now wait for my opinion.

My decisions affect the whole region.

And this year I'll harvest the vines from an angel's garden.

And I owe all my good luck to one thing.

To you.

But I told you I know nothing about luck.

My certainty then.

That there's no need to fear.

The whole business of faith is pointless.

Other men have faith. I have proof.

I never gave you proof of anything.

But you're an angel. You are proof.

No, sobran.

But you saw Nicolette. In heaven.

You told me.

I simply conveyed the thought that she felt no pain.

Heaven you imagined for yourself.

Not all angels come from heaven, sobran.

I have a small garden there.

Come away, sabine. He's been bewitched.

I've allowed you your secrets toolong.

But when I find who has hurt you, I will make them pay.

Man: Angelelorum, archangelorum, patriarcharum, prophetarum,

apostolorum, martyrum, confessorum, virginum,

atque omnium simul sanctorum.

Amen.

Per istam sanctam unctionem, et suam piisimam misericordiam,

indulgeat tibi Dominus quidquid, per visum deliquisti.

Per istam sanctam unctionem, et suam piisimam misericordiam,

indulgeat tibi Dominus quidquid, per audtiotum deliquisti.

Per istam sanctam unctionem, et suam piisimam misericordiam...

Indulgeat tibi Dominus quidquid...

Per istam sanctam unctionem,

et suam piisimam misericordiam, indulgeat tibi Dominus...

They tell me your father is ill.

You mustn't see him. The priest is with him now.

I beg you, go. Please don't trouble us.

Where did you get this?

Who gave it to you?

No-one.

There's no bird like this here. Give it to me.

It's a gift. Stop it.

A rich woman's gift.

She's the baroness. She's a demon.

She changed into a bird.

Are the children inside?

It's after midnight.

I don't want them outside after sunset.

Promise me.

Leaveit

Meeeme eelle

a gift for the baroness from maman.

To thank her for her concern.

Do we pick?

No. We wait.

The storm will pass.

(Thu Di)

Gentlemen, I appreciate your waiting.

You'll be pleased to hear it was a successful trip.

See what we have in store for parisian society this year.

What happened?

Your wine commands a good price, baroness.

One bad year won't ruin you.

One bad year, no.

But how many more bad years are ahead?

If this is how the wine tastes when no longer made with enthusiasm

then perhaps I should sell the estate?

As you wish.

I insist that you join me.

It's the 1815. Still your best wine.

Please.

So, your first wine...

And your last.

What happened to you between this wine and that?

I was betrayed.

And you took a dozen years to sicken of it?

Poisoned friendships are a slow poison.

I'm ready.

On my death you will inherit the estate.

That's not important.

So you say now, but life has a way of going on.

And my surviving an operation would be,

in the surgeon's own words,

and I don't believe in those, so what would be the point?

So you'll just give up.

My living or dying will affect no-one.

Please.

Go to Paris. Or ask the surgeon to travel here.

Offer him a fortune.

It's what anyone that loved you would wish you to do.

That loves me?

But I've never been in your confidence.

Then let me make a bargain with you.

If you bring the surgeon here

and if you survive the operation,

I'll tell you everything.

Oh!

A miracle.

Did you hope I'd die so you wouldn't have to tell me?

I prayed for you not to die.

So you still underestimate my strength

and overestimate your effect.

So tell me.

Not now.

You'll need to see for yourself.

When you're well.

Ask your questions. But please don't say you disbelieve my answers.

Why did you come? To torment me?

To take my child?

No, sobran.

I couldn't prevent it.

Why can't you believe what you've learned about me yourself?

Because I don't know what I'm looking at.

What are you?

An angel. Your angel.

A demon. Your demon then.

I'm both.

Sobran, you believe that heaven is good and hell is evil

and there is nothing in between.

And that's why I fell. Willingly.

Why me?

Your desire.

For life.

For wine.

My desire was a curse.

But your curse was your luck.

Don't you see that you can't have one without the other?

That you don't get love without the possibility of loss,

joy without despair,

or a great vintage without many failures?

You can taste it in the wine, sobran.

Why can't you accept it in yourself?

That you can despise me in this moment, but still love me.

Still want me with you.

So you give me pain?

More pain than anyone?

Is this friendship impossible?

Man: Baroness, the carriage is ready.

You mean to take my husband, but my daughter was enough.

Get out of my sight!

Get out!

Leave us in peace!

You're mine.

Dear lord, we thank you for this food

and continue to protect us from evil... from the sorcerer,

from the demon, from the enemy, from the snake and the rabid dog.

Amen.

Monsieur? What do you taste?

I came as soon as I heard.

I regret not sending word earlier.

It's everywhere.

And what do you propose we do?

I have no answers for you, baroness.

So you've done nothing? There's nothing to be done.

The stock is destroyed.

My luck has run out.

Your luck?

You should have remained in Paris.

The workers are all leaving.

So tell them to stay.

There is nothing for them here. They will starve.

No, they'll work.

I'll order rootstock. In the meantime we will prepare.

Each and every plant will need to be dug out and burnt.

It should keep your workers busy.

It's futile.

Aren't you tired of giving things up?

Walking away when the circumstance no longer suits you?

This land has been in my family for 300 years

and it's my birthright to protect it.

Not all of us have angels, you know. If that's what I saw.

Most of us only have what is in front of us.

And if god exists... He's in my own two hands.

I don't believe in heaven. I don't believe in it.

You know that. I want it now.

I want it now while you're here and we can do something.

The vines on the Ridge. They're the last.

Do you know what it's like... to care about something your whole life...

To love it like nothing else...

And have it come to nothing?

Yes.

He is the son of a nobleman and he is a connoisseur.

His father procured the rootstock.

He and sabine have found much in common.

He cares for her deeply.

When I married sabine's mother...

There was talk of her...'Trouble'.

I won't have sabine disappointed.

Or heartbroken.

If you would speak to the young man's father...

No, no. There's nothing to say.

Sabine is a level-headed young woman. She's had to be.

It's a risk.

Of course. And one has to gamble to see what grows.

But don't you think it's time for a wedding at the chateau?

A wedding with no wine.

You still have some in reserve.

The 1815. The year we met.

I can't think of a better occasion.

Congratulations.

May I join you?

Forgive me, but the finest shoes in Paris are not made for such dancing.

Salt.

You can taste.

You can taste.

A little. Like an ordinary man.

I used to think so.

When I had an angel beside me.

When I thought I was lucky.

You're not yourself without him.

My beloved friend.

I have nothing to offer you.

I have made no wine for a long time.

We'll harvest soon.

Have a wine that's never been tasted.

I have everything I need.

Theland.

The plants.

My family.

But I want you with me.

I want you with me to make this wine.

Then help me.

Here's the clothes you asked for.

So he's human now?

And how does he like it?

He said that...

He said it hurts more than he thought it would.

Thank you.

The wine?

How is it?

It's waiting for you.

How do you feel?

Shrunken.

Old.

But something else.

As if I'm getting lighter...

But stronger.

Is that what it's like?

Celeste.

Celeste.

It's time.

Take them home.

Aurora: Sobran. Your wine.

What do you taste?

I taste you.