2024 "Milhouse" Cabernet
Everything’s Coming Up Milhouse!
It took three vintages, but Ben finally convinced the senior executive team at Meredith Wines (a.k.a. his wife) to let him name a wine after a Simpsons reference. For the uninitiated, Milhouse is Bart Simpson’s lovable — if unlucky — sidekick: earnest, awkward and forever trying his best, even when he ends up the butt of the joke.
We see a bit of Milhouse in Cabernet. It isn’t the trendiest grape these days and sometimes carries an unfair reputation for producing tired or overworked wines. But when it’s done well — with low yields, patient hands in the vineyard and restraint in the winery — Cabernet can be quietly irresistible. That’s what we’ve aimed for here: a wine of berries, gentle structure and generous length — the underdog that rewards patience.
REGION: Grampians, Victoria
VINEYARD: Montara Vineyard, grown on red loam over gravel/shale, on Djub Wurrung Country
VINTAGE: 2024
VARIETAL: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
GROWING SEASON: 2024 was in interesting year for the Grampians. The growing season was travelling along nicely with moderate, dry conditions until March when the cooler weather set in immediately. Although the grapes came off the vine looking great, the cooler finish to the year pushed out picking to the end of April.
ALCOHOL: 13% - 7.7 standard drinks
WINEMAKING: 100% destemmed fruit that was cold soaked for three days before a native ferment in open top fermenters. Early, daily punch downs were used to build structure before the wine was pressed off to a mixture of new and old American and French barrels for 12 months. Vegan friendly.
FOOD MATCH: Slow roasted lamb shoulder.
Everything’s Coming Up Milhouse!
It took three vintages, but Ben finally convinced the senior executive team at Meredith Wines (a.k.a. his wife) to let him name a wine after a Simpsons reference. For the uninitiated, Milhouse is Bart Simpson’s lovable — if unlucky — sidekick: earnest, awkward and forever trying his best, even when he ends up the butt of the joke.
We see a bit of Milhouse in Cabernet. It isn’t the trendiest grape these days and sometimes carries an unfair reputation for producing tired or overworked wines. But when it’s done well — with low yields, patient hands in the vineyard and restraint in the winery — Cabernet can be quietly irresistible. That’s what we’ve aimed for here: a wine of berries, gentle structure and generous length — the underdog that rewards patience.
REGION: Grampians, Victoria
VINEYARD: Montara Vineyard, grown on red loam over gravel/shale, on Djub Wurrung Country
VINTAGE: 2024
VARIETAL: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
GROWING SEASON: 2024 was in interesting year for the Grampians. The growing season was travelling along nicely with moderate, dry conditions until March when the cooler weather set in immediately. Although the grapes came off the vine looking great, the cooler finish to the year pushed out picking to the end of April.
ALCOHOL: 13% - 7.7 standard drinks
WINEMAKING: 100% destemmed fruit that was cold soaked for three days before a native ferment in open top fermenters. Early, daily punch downs were used to build structure before the wine was pressed off to a mixture of new and old American and French barrels for 12 months. Vegan friendly.
FOOD MATCH: Slow roasted lamb shoulder.