What is claret wine?

Exactly what is claret wine? Put simply, claret is a term used for red Bordeaux in England. It is not a protected term in the United States so it is sometimes used to describe any red Bordeaux style blend. It is derived from the French word clairet which describes an old style of Bordeaux that was a full bodied rosé. In the European Union it has a protected status and so must refer to the true region of Bordeaux.