Drops of God, Vol. 24

神の雫 #24

by Tadashi Agi, Shū Okimoto (Artist)

After being trounced in the Seventh Apostle search, Shizuku begins to doubt the whole competition, hinting that he may choose to bow out. Then he learns of the Médoc Marathon, an event where competitors run 26.2 miles while visiting some of the best wineries Bordeaux's Left Bank has to offer. Seeking the origins behind his father Yutaka's entry into wine -- and the inner meaning behind the epic wine struggle he devised -- Shizuku takes to the starting line!

Genres: Manga, Comics, Wine

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 8, 2011

About the author

Tadashi Agi, 亜樹直, is the penname of Yuko and Shin Kibayashi, a sister and brother team of Japanese manga storywriters. Shin Kibayashi also uses the pseudonyms Seimaru Amagi and Yuya Aoki.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure wine shouldn't be drunk as a replacement for water when running a marathon...

[Sanford Chee · Rating 4 out of 5]

#230-239
#230 Marathon du Medoc
While tracing his dad's wine journey, Shizuku retraced Marathon du Medoc route. He bumped into Monsier Cazes at a restaurant who shared this 2003 Ormez de Pez from his family estate w/ Shizuku. Cazes family also own Lynch Bages.
👃 gentle violets, raspberry // family gathering around a cozy fireplace.
Check out this wine. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/1182136?...

#231
Pasta dinner bf Marathon the next morning is a Medoc tradition. 2003 Château de Lauga Cuvee du Grand Pere paired v well w/ tomato & basil pasta. Like wearing your fave pair of comfortable jeans.
Check out this great Wine from Château de Lauga. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/4570593?...

Paired w/ venison pasta, this Margaux wine has an aroma tt tucks in the wild game notes. gave Shizuku the impression of a 16yr old girl destined for high nobility waiting for her debutante.
Check out this L'aura. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/2794865?...

Loupiac is opposite Sauternes on the Garonne river. In the past, its dessert wine appears in the wine list at Elysee Palace banquets alongside d'Yquem. This is Momo no Sekku the Peach Flower Festival - warm fluffy sweetness w/ peach petals.
Check out this 1989 dessert wine. I scanned it with the @Vivino app: https://www.vivino.com/wines/1813166

#232 the speedster awakens to a lion's boldness
1st stop of Shizuka’s Marathon du Medoc, 2000 Pichon Baron. notes of giant cedar & lots of fleshy fruit. Classic. A thoroughbred - beautiful, speedy breed w/ rippling muscles.
Check out this wine. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/103956?u...

2004 Leoville Las Cases - a falcon dancing in the sky. It calmly circles above the forest, a proud young bird, its eyes turned downwards
Check out this wine. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/1247531?...

vs 2004 Clos du Marquis
Not 2nd wine of Las Cases, different vineyard output the main Las Cases field. Gentle aroma w/ light sweetness. Outdoor amphitheatre, rolling in the air, is a gentle harmonised melody. A marimba! Drinking this wine clears away the gloom, filling you w/ joy. its sweetness gently wraps ard u.
Check out this great Wine from Clos du Marquis. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/1949328?...

#233 St Julien's healing winds fill a warrior's sail
Chateau Beychevelle considered among the prettiest estate in Bdx
Top 10 of the most beautiful wine châteaux in Bordeaux
https://bordeauxsecret.com/en/best-bo...
1996 vintage: Once owned by Duke of Epernon. "Baysse voile" = lower your sails, hence its sail boat label. Stocky tannin rich, mature musky aroma. Spicy & savoury. Wild darjeeling w/ 🇮🇳 spice. Cutty Sark the fastest tea clipper sailing on choppy waters fr Asia to 🇬🇧
Check out this wine. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/1279011?...

https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/...

2000 Grade Larose: 2nd growth. Pride of St Julien. Strong aroma, thick & gaudy. A strong, meaty wine. Riding horseback towards Arc de Triomphe. So grand & stately. But as u approach, its delicate, elegant touches charm u. Greeting war weary soldiers, a gate to gently heal their souls. The fighting is over. Rest well. A triumphal arch celebrating the heroes of war even as it comforts them.

#234 young man feel the terrior, walk the stately path
Lagrange: bought over by Suntory in 1983, 1st time 🇫🇷 govt allowed a non-Western firm to buy classified growth winery.

Chateau Belgrave: Honma ❤️ it. Poor man's Latour.

1999 Grand Puy Lacoste: top class 5th growth. Reserved but elegant. 🎩👨 well mannered & impeccably dressed.
Check out this wine. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/1355394?...

#235 the princess unlocks a 100yr old seal of love
Pontet Canet 2000 5th growth tt evolved to "super 2nd"
Takaruka revue musical troupe: a soft aroma, not super strong or expressive - none of that overbearing, deliberate cloying feel. it's high class & elegant. it has muscles yet its essence is tt of a graceful woman w/ delicate feelings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takaraz...
Check out this wine. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/85553?ut...

@Chateau Lafite
white pebbles tt are good for drainage yet keep the soils warm

2nd wine of Lafite
softer & sweeter than Lafite (a boldly elegant sweetness w/ none of tt cloying vanilla), smaller scale too. Complex, large scale minerals tt echo in the mouth, & seems to go on forever, then an elegant silence opens up, approachable but fleeting. Cinderella's fairy tale castle.
Check out this 2005 Carruades. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/1427123?...

#236 the wings of St Estephe bring rose coloured joy
Cos d'Estournel = Taj Mahal of Bdx. 1st Bdx Château to export wines to India
Located on hills overlooking rivers

Haut Marbuzet Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel not part of 1855 classification
2003 warm vintage, low acidity. Approachable. Sweet & mellow. An easy chair - soft & plush yet fully supports u. A large supremely comfortable chair.
Check out this wine. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/1284128?...

2005 Bdx Superior. A bright, flashy 👃 masculine wine, still young & noble like a charming young man. A young Adonis beloved by Aphrodite, fr his blood sprang the anemone flower.
Check out this great Wine from Château Tronquoy. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/1373763?...

1997 Montrose w/ 🌹👃, warm wind heavy w/ grass odour. A rose tinted hill shining at sunset.
Check out this great Wine from Château Montrose. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/1857898?...

#237 expectant blooms illuminating the roads of Bdx
Pichon Baron, Las Cases, Beychevelle, Lafite, Montrose

Value Bdx served to Shizuka at the end of his Medoc marathon
Check out this 2005 from Ginestet. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/15692087...

2004 Château Haut Meneau gold medal winner Belgian concours. Good QPR.
Check out this Premieres Cote de Blaye. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/15982288...

Shizuka’s fave among value Bdx at the end of his Medoc marathon - 2006 Chateau Bellevue Cuvee Bellevue. This Emile Galle style lamp. Light, gentle, complex, relieving. An elegance reminiscent of Bdx past.
Check out this wine. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/3601164?...

Yutaka Kanzaki's seminal wine. This 1959 Henri Jayer Richebourg opened his eyes to the glory of wine.
Check out this great Wine from Henri Jayer. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/3236753?...

Wine broker Hayama, Yutaka Kanzaki's drinking buddy in Bdx, was there when the famous wine critic discovered an unbelievable vintage that led to his 2nd epiphany w/ wine & fr tt moment on, Yutaka swore to dedicate his life to walking the path of wine.
When Shizuka visited the wine broker, Hayama refused to sell Shizuku this 1983 Haut Brion coz he wanted to drink it all for himself.
Check out this wine. I just scanned it with the Vivino app. https://www.vivino.com/wines/1359790?...

#238 thorny fruits opening at night to liven the room
#239 surges of passion, flowing w/ every goodbye

[Zoey Wyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume gets to the root of why this series is so appealing.

The relationship between the passed on father and the son is everything. The story told through wine makes it unique and captivating. The mystery keeps me going. I look forward to reading more!!

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I'm running a marathon reading this series.

[Carlee Desborough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy that he is getting to know he's Dad, and wants to follow in he's footsteps. The way he hit the guy with a pan was funny 🤣

[Catherine Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si un jour l'idée me prend de me préparer à faire un marathon, c'est celui du Médoc que je voudrais faire! 🤭