Saturday Morning With Jack Tame

Esk Valley Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2022, Hawkes Bay RRP from $24.99.    From the Gimblett Gravels sub-regional GI of Hawkes Bay     The Wine: Great colour concentration leading to a bouquet of ripe dark red berry fruits, blackberry and roasted plums, a mix of sweet and bitter chocolate, cacao and baking spices. The wood smoke from use of barrel adds complexity and depth. Dry with an abundance of ripe tannins and plenty of acidity for bite and freshness, West drinking from day of purchase through 2030.      The Food:   Great with moderate to high protein foods – from lamb to beef and even some roast chicken. Red meat, say a steak, that is cooked medium-rare has a lot more available protein on the palate than say one cooked to medium-well, or well-done. The rarer the meat the bigger and younger a red wine can be – the protein in the flesh and any juice that might ooze from it soften tannins in the wine making it seem smoother or softer.   The other consider