In his inaugural offering of wines John Howard, former owner of Vineland Estates, released a couple of ‘04’s, a single ’05 and a number of ‘06’s (the ’04 by way of a blend and a Pinot, the ’05 as a single varietal, and the ‘06’s aromatic whites and a pink). 2005, being a short crop, didn’t allow for both a single and a blend, so winemakers had to decide how best to get the most out of the grapes they got. The Maniac behind this bottle, (winemaker Andrzej Lipinski) decided to go single, and good thing he did. The nose is front loaded with black cherries and raspberries, with just a light touch of white pepper; while on the tongue, you’ll find lots of black fruit, pepper and oak. A touch of tannin and good acidity helps to make this wine worth drinking now (as it is smoother than one would expect) – yet it can also find some space in the cellar for up to 5 years or so.