Château Pontet-Canet has never been better: The Cru Classé estate in Pauillac has produced two Wine Advocate 100-point reds in the last decade, and is known by Bordeaux collectors—especially those among Wine Access members—for delivering First Growth quality at a fraction of the price.

Alfred Tesseron, who has led the estate since 1994, treated us to a phenomenal tasting in San Francisco a few weeks ago. With Bush Street bustling below and Pontet-Canet in our glasses—four vintages, from 2000 to 2015 (including the 100-point 2010)—Alfred stood in front of us, swirled his glass, and regaled us with stories about the estate: The early challenge of winning over the workers and his stern father (“This is him smiling, he quipped as he showed a photo of the stone-faced patriarch), and the biodynamic and hands-on practices that have pushed Pontet-Canet to greatness. We also sampled Pym-Rae, Alfred’s opulent Mount Veeder Napa Valley Cabernet, whose 97-point debut put it in the rarest of cult Cabernet company.

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