They are pushing this as something the US won’t be able to get, selling rather cheaply at $22.97 per.
"Pichon-Baron (known in Europe as Pichon-Longueville but confusion among US consumers with Pichon Longueville Lalande has led to a truncated “Pichon-Baron”) occasionally produces this wine below the Grand Vin and second level - typically in the very best vintages. From 100% estate fruit and 30-40 year old vines grown on their trademark gravel soil, this is not a young vine cast-off - this is real Bordeaux with a mission. With the “Pauillac” bottling, Baron wishes to capture the profound nature of a great vintage in a style that can be enjoyed during the first 10-15 years of life (instead of 20-40 years down the road). The major difference between this and their other wine is the cooperage and time left in barrel. No new oak is used on the “Pauillac” bottling (versus nearly 100% new oak for the Grand Vin) and the wine is left in barrel for one year instead of two. The cepage has more Merlot to reduce the tannic clout (50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot instead of mostly Cabernet for the Grand Vin) but in 2005, the fruit for the “Pauillac” bottling was exemplary – even the Merlot (it would have been the backbone of the Grand Vin in a vintage like 2004). "
