Axios – 164
Tuesday, September 20th, 2005
This is going to be a rare one for me — for change, I am going to document a winery and wine without having met its principals, visited its vineyards, or talked to anybody who even works for the winery. While at the Copia Cognoscente tasting, the folks at The Bounty Hunter had a number of wines they were representing on their table. The parchment paper color, Doré-like woodcut design, and deckled edge drew my eye. Axios. It is a Greek word that looks like this: άξιος and means, worth.
Reading through the company website, the gist is that a Constantine ‘Gus’ Kalaris, after running a wine distribution company for twenty-plus years, decided to finally begin making his own. Kalaris did well in hiring winemaker Robert Egelhof, mythic for his association with such wines as Harlan, Pahlmeyer, and David Arthur. I can’t tell you anything else. Their website has vineyard information for the 1999 release, yet what I tasted was a pre-release which won’t be available for sale until the middle of 2006. Perhaps at that point I can re-visit this intriguing wine house and tell you more.
2003 Axios Cabernet Sauvignon – Medium red color, giving the aloof impression of a light-bodied wine. While not have heavy as I would have preferred, the aromas of defined minerals, juicy plum, and dusty herbs don’t disappoint. The mouth entry is clean and deep, showing supple wood and rich, dark berry fruit. $130.00.
No company information available. Earlier vintages available through Bounty Hunter; link above.