I think the Tradition (fine wine!) would have historically been
> referred to as a sec-tendre, but Pinon didn't want to be locked into
> calling it a sec or a demi-sec as current regs would have insisted.
> 2005 probably would be a demi-sec, less ripe vintages might be drier. >
Here's what I gleaned about this wine from SFJoe's tasting with François Pinon last year:
RS 23 g/l, TA 5.0 g/l
So, legally this would have to be labelled Moelleux since demi-sec runs from 9-17 g/l RS whereas Moelleux takes in the range 18-45 g/l (sec-tendre FWIW is from 4-15 g/l RS). Pinon himself says that he labels the way he does to avoid having to change designations from demi-sec in years like '05. He also says that he doesn't consider 23 g/l RS a real Moelleux, so that may be part of his reasoning, too.
Mark Lipton