What's in a Red Blend?

I can't tell you how many times when talking about wine with someone who says they like wine that when I ask them what types of wines they like, at least part of the answer is red blends. They tell me they like red blends because they are easier to drink than other red wines. I'm not entirely sure what that means.

How much of a blend do they have to be? 5% not of the primary grape? 10%? 30%? How many different grapes do they need to have? 2? 3? 9? 13?

They're easier to drink than what? Pinot Noir? Cabernet? Merlot? Or are they easier to drink than white wines?

I expect that the typical person who gives me this answer has had a series of experiences with wines that goes like this. They started out drinking likely okay and or buttery Chardonnay. If the tastes of those don't repulse you, they are probably easy to drink, whatever that means. They don't have the tannic bite, they don't have a lot of acidity and they tend to have a somewhat creamy mouthfeel. I guess that's easy.

And, then these same people decide to take on red wines. And, among the first they taste are likely Cabernet Sauvignon and almost equally likely not particularly great Cabernet. Those wines will be tannic and they will have a fair amount of that infamous tannic bite. This is particularly true because this experience will involve someone having bought the bottle at the store in the middle of the afternoon and then consuming it within a few hours. These wines are young. The tannins have neither softened nor rounded. Indeed, these wines might be perceived as harsh.

Then, these same people go back to the store wanting one of those red wines that their friends like so much. They see something labeled red wine or red blend or even Meritage as they have been told this is a red blend and it sounds like something special (the special part is the Meritage fee, but that's a different gimmick altogether). Because these wines typically contain a fair proportion of less tannic grapes, when the bottle is consumed hours after it is purchased, it drinks "easier."

But, what's in a blend? Napa Valley red blends tend to use the classic Bordeaux varietals. Sonoma Valley blends often contain Zinfandel, Petite Sirah (Durif), Syrah, and whatever else the winery happens to have produced. Washington red blends are likely heavil waited to Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah. And, then there are Rhone blends that depending on whether they are northern Rhone (Syrah-based) or southern Rhone (Grenache-based) and Italian blends which could have any of about 1000 different varietals in them. And, the list goes on.

So, if it's blend, you like it? Again, how many grapes? And how much is other than the primary grape?

If you just say you like red blends, I'm sorry, but you have no idea what you like.