2005 Axios Cabernet Sauvignon

An example is certainly the 2005 Axios. One-hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is concentrated, still young, but with terrific density, richness, and concentration, although still playing it close to the vest. Opaque purple in color, with plenty of creme de cassis, licorice, and subtle smoke and earth, the wine is full-bodied, beautifully pure and layered, but one can sense that most of the nuances and complexity have still not emerged. This wine is “locked and loaded,” as they say, and 2-3 more years of bottle age will be enormously beneficial for it. It should drink well for two decades. A brilliant success in the vintage! This is the personal project of Axios Wine Company’s Gus Kalaris, who enlists Bob Egelhoff to produce these wines from a blend of selected vineyards primarily in Oakville and Rutherford, with some Spring Mountain fruit occasionally thrown in. The wines are aged two years in about 75% new French oak, and production ranges from 600 to 800 cases. The 2005 will be released in a few months, and by the end of next year, the 2006 and 2007 will follow. Every time I go back to a top 2005 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, I am increasingly impressed. I still think the three greatest vintages over the last decade in Napa are 2001, 2002, and 2007, but 2005 is very, very close. Tel. (410) 309-9463