When it comes to “classic” wines, it doesn’t get much more classic than Bordeaux, France. Bordeaux’s roots in wine go back thousands of years. The meticulously tended vineyards of Bordeaux flank the Gironde Estuary which empties into the sea along France’s Atlantic coast. There, the five red Bordeaux grapes are grown: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The percentage of each variety in a given Bordeaux blend is dependent on the vintage. Cooler vintages tend to have a greater percentage of Merlot since it is easier to ripen than the Cab.