Actually the Americans reintroduced the vines to France, but the Americans caused the disease in the first place, that killed all the French vines. but the reintroduction was on good rootstocks.
Not sure about all this plummy plummy rubbish, but you can't beat a good Merlot, usually aussie, or NZ, or SA, or sometimes even American. The rest is old aocks. That's what gives you the headache, that and too much! Drink the good stuff no headache.
But I don't drink.
Bit windy on here tonight
Pj