All language subtitles for 016 - 02x07 - taste

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I think one has more fun

being a wine-lover
in England

than in any other country.

And that's because
London is where

nearly all the great wine
auctions take place.

There's one almost every
week of the year.

And for decades, I have
haunted these auctions

and the tastings
that go before them.

As a result, the old
cellar below our house

contains, at this moment,
over 5,000 bottles of wine.

Some of it is superb.

Most of it is pretty good.

We drink a bottle
or two every night,

and it doesn't seem
to do us much damage.

Here's a wine story I wrote

when I first became
fascinated by the subject.

[Inhales]

Of course, the first
thing one must do

is smell.

MAN: Smell?

Ha ha! I mean,
of course,

smell in
the active sense.

[Inhales]

To smell.

Only after one has
smelt, so to speak,

does one taste.

All right, then,

let's put you to
the test again.

And let me assure
everyone at home

that Richard Pratt
has no idea

what wines we've
chosen for him.

All right, then.

Richard Pratt,

where does this
wine come from?

Oh!

Ho ho! This is a very
good-humored fellow!

Mm-hmm.

Mmm!

A benevolent,
cheerful little chap.

Oh, dear!

Slightly obscene,
perhaps.

A little bit naughty.

Pompous idiot!

...but nonetheless
good-humored.

Hmm, let's see.

German, of course.

Uh...

Not far from
Bad Kreuznach.

That would account
for the naughtiness.

1959, I think.

Yes, Nahe Schlossbokelheim
Kupfergrube Spatlese 1959.

How's that?

Absolutely right!

4 out of 4!

Yes--

WOMAN: Don't switch it off!

Just turn down the sound.

I want to know
when he finishes

because he said he's
coming straight on

after the program.

I don't know why we
go to so much trouble

when we're going
to be bored

by all
that wine talk.

Your father likes him.

And I can't bear
the way he stares at me.

Looks at me as
though I were

one of his
favorite clarets.

He's meant to be
very good on clarets.

Who else did you
say was coming?

The Blighs, Peter and Joanna.

They're Americans.

You'll like them.

He's a writer.

What's he write?

I've no idea,

but he must
do very well.

He's got your father
as a stock broker

and she always
looks tanned.

Would you taste this
please, Mrs. Schofield?

What is it,
Mrs. Adams?

It's the horseradish
that I'm making.

But I'm afraid it may be
a little too strong.

You taste it, dear.

It is a little
too strong.

And don't forget,
Mrs. Adams, dear!

The beef's to go on
the minute he arrives.

Mr. Pratt likes it
very rare.

He'll get it rare,
all right.

Louise, ask your father
about the wines.

I want to know what
glasses to put out.

Where is he?

In his study.

Green filing cabinet.

[No audio]

Dad?

Please, no draft!

Sorry.

Mummy wants to know
what glasses to put out.

Hock, claret,
champagne.

Right.

And go quietly.

Yes!

Yes, yes, yes!

Oh, dear.

What?

It's over.

MAN: Thank you, studio!

That is a wrap.

HOST: Thank you very
much, Mr. Pratt.

An amazing display.
Really first class!

Not at all. You must
excuse me in my rush.

Surely. Don't go
without these, though.

Oh, thank you,
thank you.

I'm always
doing that.

I can't read a thing
without them.

Oh.

A very naughty
fellow indeed!

Ready?

WOMAN: Peter, I must say,

he does sound
absolutely fascinating.

Oh, yes, yes,
absolutely fascinating.

He has the most
amazing sense of taste

of any man
I've ever met.

MAN: Do you
always have a bet

each time he
comes to dinner?

I'm afraid so.

It's getting
rather expensive.

Oh, why?
What are the stakes?

Well, let me explain.

We only bet
on the claret.

Mike, isn't that
what we call Cabernet?

Well done, Joanna.

Absolutely right.

Cabernet is
the name of the vine.

Cabernet Sauvignon.

The vine of the great
clarets of Bordeaux.

Honey,

you never fail
to surprise me.

Go on, Mike.

As I was saying,

we only bet
on the claret.

I serve a wine,
then challenge him

to name the breed
and the vintage.

And he gives me a case of the
wine in question if he can't.

A case!

But he always can.

Yes, that's true.

I've never
beaten him.

[Laughter]

But tonight,
I really believe

I have a wine that will
absolutely baffle him.

Well, I'll drink to that.

He doesn't sound
like the kind of guy

who's easily
baffled, eh?

He's not.

And it's not only
wines he knows about.

He's a gourmet, too.

Oh, yeah, I read
about that somewhere.

He's the president
of a society called...

The Epicures,
isn't he?

They get together
once a month

and stuff themselves
on sumptuous dishes

and rare wines.

Yes. I'm a member.

[Doorbell rings]

MIKE: And that
will be him.

Louise,
would you?

MIKE: I'm afraid I must
ask you not to smoke.

Pratt's most fastidious
about that sort of thing.

We don't want his
taste buds damaged.

No, we
certainly don't.

Good evening.

Ah!

Louise.

Aren't you
coming in?

I'll lead the way.

One moment.

This couldn't be
more opportune.

I did so want a word
with you in private.

I have a little
gift for you.

A gift?

How kind.

Do open it. I want to know
if you like it.

[Sighs]

It's my latest.

And I've inscribed
it to you.

Do look.

I made it "To Louise,

from her admirer."

Heartfelt words.

Thank you.

I think we
better go in.

They'll be wondering
what's happened to us.

[Group chatting]

Sybil, dear!
Lovely as ever!

Hello, Mike.

MIKE: Let me introduce
the Blighs.

Joanna and Peter.

Richard Pratt.

Forgive me for
being late.

I've come straight

from the television
studio.

SYBIL: We saw you.
Very impressive.

Not at all!

They gave me some
extremely well known

wines to taste.

These television
people

are all idiots,
you know.

I only do it because

they do so insist
on my appearing.

To think I couldn't
name a Cabernet.

[Laughter]

I trust, Mike,
you will have

something a little
more challenging

for me this evening.

Tonight,
Richard,

I'm going
to win!

JOANNA: Oh,
good for you!

You bet, Mr. Pratt.

And you, sir,
what do you do?

I write.

How interesting.

Under your
own name?

Yes.

Mmm. I myself
have just

published
a new book.

As a matter of fact,

I presented
a copy to Louise.

SYBIL: How charming
of you, Richard.

What's it
called?

"Great Post War Vintages."

I say!
Riveting!

Riveting!

I hope you'll
all buy it.

[Bell chimes]

Well, Mike...

Are you ready for me?

I am.

JOANNA: You mean
we do the wine

before the din...

Ha! How do you
wine-taste with soda?

Oh, perhaps I
ought to explain.

You see, Richard never
has an aperitif.

Good heavens, no!

But what I always do

is retire briefly
before dinner is served

and gargle with
soda water.

You don't really
gargle with--

Soda water sponges
out the palate,

scours out all
the unwanted tastes.

And that way, I am ready

to face the challenge
of my host.

Excuse me.

Isn't he
extraordinary?

Ha.

Oh, yeah,
he's uh...

extraordinary.

Great thing
about Moselle,

it's the perfect wine
to serve before a claret.

A lot of people
serve a Rhine wine,

but that's because they
don't know any better.

It's barbaric

to serve a Rhine wine
before a claret.

But a Moselle, ah!

A Moselle is
exactly right.

PETER: Mmm!
Delicious!

MIKE: Charming
little wine!

Don't you think so,
Richard?

...like eating chicken
with bananas.

To which the American,

who was from the state
of Maryland, said,

"But I like chicken
with bananas!"

[Laughs]

Oh, dear, have I kept
you all waiting?

I am sorry.

Louise is such
an interesting companion.

Mmm.

Oh, delicious!

I congratulate you, Sybil.

Absolutely perfect!

Fried in butter,

very crisp,

a dash of lemon.

Mmm!

Really excellent.

So...

Ah!

Moselle.

Mela Moselle 1971,
I believe.

Exactly right.

So much better to
serve a Moselle

rather than a Rhine
before the claret.

Precisely
what I said.

It is! That's just
what he said!

Now...

this is a very
courteous personage.

Slightly effeminate.

Rich...

Rather like your Daughters
of the American Revolution--

not quite as well off
as they used to be.

A beautifully
mannered lady.

Now for the claret.

Thank you,
Mrs. Adams, dear!

I must go and fetch
the claret.

Go and fetch it?
Where is it?

In my study with
the cork out breathing.

But why is it
in your study?

Being chambred,
of course.

Pardon?

Acquiring room
temperature.

Yes, but why in
your study?

Well, since Richard
and I

began these
little contests,

we've had to see
that conditions are

as near perfect
as possible.

So, together,
we explored the house

to find the best spot
for the wine to breathe.

And we hit upon the top of
the green filing cabinet

in my study.

Draft-free,
even temperature.

Do excuse me.

JOANNA, LAUGHING: Top of
the green filing cabinet.

There's nowhere else
in the whole house--

PRATT: No! That is
the perfect place.

Oh, you do take these
contests seriously.

Indeed, I do.

And, tonight,
I'm taking it

especially
seriously.

Why?

I may want to
raise the stakes.

To what?

[Chattering]

You'll never name
this one, Richard.

You'll never get it,

not in a hundred
years.

It's a claret.
Of course.

I assume, then, it's one
of the smaller vineyards.

Maybe it is,
and then again...

maybe it isn't.

But it's a good year?

One of the great years?

Yes, that
I can guarantee.

Then that shouldn't
be too difficult.

And look, Richard,
I won't force you

to bet on this one.

And why not?

Because it's a very
difficult wine.

But I was just saying
to the others

while you
were out of the room,

that tonight I felt like
increasing the bet.

No, that would
be silly.

But if you want to bet,
we'll have the usual.

A case of
the wine itself.

You don't think
I can name it, do you?

As a matter of fact,

and with all
due respect,

I don't.

Oh, I like this!

I like this
more and more!

Now, come on, Michael,
let's increase the bet!

No, a case is plenty.

Would you like
to bet 50 cases?

50?! 50!

Oh, don't be
ridiculous, Richard.

Do start, everyone.
It will get cold.

PETER: It looks
absolutely perfect.

So, you don't want
to increase the bet.

MIKE: Well, as far
as I'm concerned,

old man, I don't
give a damn.

I'll bet you
anything you like.

Anything I like?

Shall we say
�10,000?

[Laughter]

That better not be
my 20,000 bucks

you're laying.

Oh, certainly,
if that's what you want.

So...

you would bet
anything I like.

Well, that's
what I said.

Mike.

Mike, stop
this nonsense

and allow us
to eat our food.

Sybil, I'm sorry

you should think
this is nonsense.

We're just making
a little bet.

Oh, I do love
a good bet.

Now, let's see...

what shall we bet
for tonight?

You'll never guess
this wine, Richard.

So, I don't give
a damn

what
the stakes are.

You're on.

I want you...

to bet...

the hand of your
daughter in marriage.

[Laughter]

Hey, that's not funny.

Ok, Daddy, that's
not funny at all.

Oh, dear, they're
only joking.

I'm not joking!

[Laughter stops]

It's ridiculous.

But you said I could
bet anything I liked.

I meant money.
You didn't say money.

Well, that's
what I meant.

It's a pity you
didn't say it,

because if you want to
go back on your word...

It's not a question of
going back on my word,

old man, it's a no-bet,

and I'll tell you why.

You can't match
the stake.

You don't have
a daughter of your own

to put up against mine
if you lose.

And even if you had,

I wouldn't want
to marry her.

[Laughter]

SYBIL: I'm pleased
to hear that, dear.

Yes, I thought
you might be!

Very well, then.

I'll bet you
anything you like.

My house, for example.

How about my house?

Which one?

The country one.

Why not the town
one as well?

Why not?

Very well.

If you wish.

Both my houses.

Now, Daddy,
don't be absurd.

It's too silly
for words.

I refuse to be betted
on like this.

SYBIL:
Quite right, dear.

Stop it at once,
Mike.

Do eat your food.

MIKE: You know, Louise,

we ought to
think about this.

Stop it, Daddy.

I'm not listening.

Louise, just--
I've never heard of

anything so ridiculous
in all my life.

Just wait a moment

and hear what
I have to say.

I don't want to hear it.

He's willing to
bet two houses,

and the point is this,
he can't possibly win.

He seems to think he can.

Now, listen to me,

because I know what
I'm talking about.

The expert...

when tasting a claret,

as long as it's not one
of the famous great wines

like Lafite or Latour,

can only get a certain way
towards naming the vineyard.

He can, of course,
tell you

which Bordeaux district
the wine comes from,

whether it's from
St. Emilion,

Pomerol, Graves,
or Medoc.

But then each district

has several communes--

the counties.

And each county has many,
many small vineyards.

It's impossible for a man

to differentiate
between them

just by taste
and smell alone.

I don't mind telling you
that the one I have here

is a wine from
a small vineyard

surrounded by many
other small vineyards.

And he'll never get it.

It's impossible.

Are you sure?
Of course, I'm sure.

Just...

think about it.

You'll be rich.

Two houses.

You can sell them.

You'll be independent
for the rest of your life.

SYBIL: Mike!
Stop it now!

Sybil,
don't interfere.

I'm the girl's
father.

Louise, I wouldn't
let you in

for something
you didn't want.

Take the bet.

I guarantee
you can't lose.

I don't
like it.

[Sighs]

You're being silly!

Come on, Joanna,
what do you say?

Peter, should she
or shouldn't she?

Uh, could you just leave
us out of this, please?

PETER: Yeah,
I'll drink to that.

Come on, girl,
take it.

I'm making you
a fortune.

We can't lose.

Daddy, supposing
I do lose.

I'm your
father, girl.

I keep telling you
you can't lose.

I guarantee it.

All right, then.

As long as you're sure.

That's my girl!

Good.

Fine.

It's a bet.

PRATT: Good. Fine.

It's a bet.

[Inhales]

[Clears throat]

Yes.

Very interesting
little wine.

Gentle and gracious.

Almost feminine
in the aftertaste.

Now we can begin...

to eliminate.

I must move cautiously.

There is much at stake.

First, then.

From which district
in Bordeaux

does this wine come?

That's not too difficult.

It's far too light to be
either St. Emilion or Graves.

It's obviously a Medoc.

There's no doubt about that.

Now, from which commune
in Medoc does it come?

It's a very gentle wine.

Demure and bashful
in the first taste,

emerging shyly,
but quite graciously

in the second.

A little arch, perhaps.

Something of a tease,

taunting me with just
a trace of tannin.

Then in the aftertaste

consoling and feminine.

A certain generosity
that one associates

only with the wines of
the commune of St. Julien.

Unmistakably...

this is St. Julian.

I'm sorry, my dear,

but I simply cannot have
smoking at the table!

Now, let me see.
Where were we?

This wine is from Bordeaux

from the commune
of St. Julien

from the district
of Medoc.

So far so good.

Now we come to
the more difficult part--

the name of
the vineyard itself.

I'm going to try to
establish the growth.

If I can do that,
it will be half the battle.

Now, let me see...

Well, this wine is
obviously not from

a first-growth vineyard,

nor even a second.

It is not a great wine.

The quality, the radiance,

the--je ne sais quoi--

the power is lacking.

But a third growth...

perhaps.

I must be careful.
I must be very careful here.

Yes.

[Clears throat]

I'm right!

I'm sure of it.

It's a fourth growth.

Oh, good, that's better.

Now we're closing in.

What are the fourth
growth vineyards

in the commune
of St. Julian?

[Lapping]

Mmm!

There it is again.

Tannin in the middle,
taste a quick astringent

squeeze upon the tongue!

Yes, now I have it.

This wine comes from one
of the small vineyards

around Beychevelle.

I remember it.

I know the district well.

The river, the small
harbor where the...

wine ships can't
get in anymore

because they're
all silted up.

Yes, could this be
a Beychevelle itself?

No, I don't think so.

Not quite.

But somewhere very close.

Chateau Talbot.

Chateau Talbot.

Now, could this
be a Talbot?

Yes.

I believe it could.

But I'm not happy.

I'm wrong.
It's not a Talbot.

I think this is a 1966,

so it couldn't
be a Talbot.

Oh, let me think.

It's not a Beychevelle,

and it's not Talbot.

But it's so close
to both of them,

so close to the vineyard

it must be almost
in between!

But...

Somewhere to the south.

East.

Now, which
could that be?

Yes.

I think I have it.

I think I have it.

Yes, yes, yes,

yes, yes, yes.

Yes.

This is a Chateau
Branaire-Ducru.

And the year is 1966.

MIKE: Is that
your final answer?

PRATT: Oh, yes,

it is.

Chateau
Branaire-Ducru.

1966.

A pretty little
vineyard.

Lovely old chateau.

I know it
quite well.

I can't think why

I didn't recognize
it at once.

Come on, Daddy,
let's have a peek.

I want my
two houses.

Just a minute,
wait.

Just a minute.

Michael,
what's the matter?

Keep out of this, Sybil,
will you please?

He's guessed right,
hasn't he?

Well, has he?

Now, don't worry.

This is nothing
to worry about.

Richard...

I think you and I
had better slip off

and have a little chat.

PRATT: Oh,
but I don't want

a little chat.

All I want is
to see the label

on that bottle.

Now, come along,
Michael.

What are you
waiting for?

[Door slams]

MRS. ADAMS: I believe
these are yours, sir.

Are they?
Perhaps they are.

I don't know.

Oh, yes, they're
yours, all right, sir.

You left them in
Mr. Schofield's study...

on top of the green
filing cabinet, sir,

when you happened to go
in there by yourself

before dinner.

You were carrying
a soda siphon, sir.

I saw you.

SYBIL: Michael.

Keep calm.

Michael.

Michael!

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