Production year(s) for Axis Burnt Apple Sparkle

So after lusting after an Axis for years I finally managed to snag one a couple of months ago. It is a beautiful Burnt Apple Sparkle and from what the guy at the store tells me, it is a 2001. I have had a couple of people tell me that this is a really rare color and they only made them in 2001 for the Axis. I am curious if anyone knows if there is any truth to this?