The Bordeaux winemakers loved the grape’s healthy level of tannins, which meant the wine could evolve in the bottle for many years. They also determined that it responded incredibly well to spending time in oak, as the oak brought out beautiful new flavors. The result was a wine that was full-bodied with a medium level of acidity that was fantastic for drinking with food. As they started playing with the varietal, they began blending it with other grapes, such as Merlot, and created the world’s most famous wine blend: the Bordeaux blend.