Daniel Appleby, expert supermarket wine-taster,
visits Monsieur Colbert, a Bordeaux family vineyard
proprietor. Appleby, impressed with the quality of
Colbert’s wine, offers him a derisory deal involving the
supermarket taking control of production. Colbert,
desperate for money, reluctantly agrees. On the way
home, Appleby is involved in an accident; a blow to
the head robs him of his sense of smell, restricting
his sense of taste to the basic flavours of salt, sweet
and bitter. He dare not admit his handicap to his boss,
Justin, and arranges to postpone a televised wine
tasting so Colbert himself can attend. Appleby admits
his disability to Colbert and enlists his help. Colbert
is to taste his wine first, then Appleby will taste and
pronounce on the wine at a signal from Colbert. At the
tasting, Appleby lavishly praises the wine. The wine is
offered to the guests who spit it out in disgust – it is red
wine vinegar! Colbert has taken revenge by exposing
Appleby and ruining his reputation.