The Bordeaux blend is the most copied wine style in the world — and the original. Five grapes are permitted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The proportions vary by region and producer. Left Bank Bordeaux (Médoc, Pauillac, Margaux) is Cabernet-led — structured, age-worthy, with blackcurrant and cedar. Right Bank Bordeaux (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol) is Merlot-led — softer, plummier, more approachable young. Bordeaux producers don't typically declare grape proportions on labels — the assumption is that a Pauillac wine is Cabernet-dominant, while a Saint-Émilion is Merlot-dominant.

Bordeaux is a system, not just a wine. The 1855 Classification ranked Médoc châteaux into five 'growths' (crus) — First Growth (Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Mouton, Haut-Brion) at the top. Saint-Émilion has its own classification. Generic Bordeaux (the entry-level appellation) is everyday wine — drink within 5 years. Cru Bourgeois and second wines of major châteaux are mid-tier — drink within 10 years. Classed Growths are the prestige tier — age 15–30+ years. Vintage matters significantly: 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 are recent strong years.