This is the second day of the Aussie Wine Tour of the Association of Dutch Vinologists. Click here for the previous day.

On the way from Sydney to Canberra we made a stop at Centennial Vineyards, the only vineyard in the Southern Highlands with 5 red stars from the Halliday Wine Companion.

They have two vineyards, one at Bowral at 760 meters above sea level in the Southern Highlands geographic wine region, and the other at Bridge Creek at 850 meters above sea level in the Orange geographic wine region. The vineyard at the cellar in Bowral has a very cool climate for Australia and is planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Albariño, Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier, and Riesling. It is too cool here for Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon. The one at Orange is warmer and planted with Shiraz, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Rondinella, and Corvina.

We tasted the folllowing wines:

• Brut Traditionelle (Southern Highlands, 60% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay, 3% Pinot Meunier, second fermentation in the bottle, aged for 36 months on the lees, full malolactic): mineral (rubber), elegant, high acidity, soft mousse.
• Prestige Brut Blanc de Blancs (Chardonnay from oldest vines of the estate (1988) at 850 meters above sea level, second fermentation in the bottle, aged 47 months on the lees): elegant, mineral
• Gruner Veltliner 2022 (Southern Highlands, Gruner Veltliner): very light, green apple, bitter aftertaste
• Chardonnay Reserve Bridge Creek 2022 (Orange, Chardonnay from a very rainy season, aged 9 months on new French oak with full malolactic, wild yeast): oaky but will integrated and balanced
• Pinot Noir Bridge Creek 2022 (Orange, Pinot Noir): oak, spicy, light, high acidity
• Reserve Rondinella Corvina Bridge Creek 2019 (Orange, 60% Rondinella, 40% Corvina, 25% of the grapes dried, inspired by Amarone that is made from the same grapes in Veneto/Italy (but with more Corvina and less Rondinella)): caramel notes, ripe tannins but quite astringent, spicy.
• Reserve Shiraz Viognier 2019 (Orange, 96% Shiraz, 4% Viognier co-fermented like in Northern Rhone): a bit alcoholic, caramel/coffee notes, sticky tannins.
• Sparkling Shiraz (Orange, Shiraz, 12 months French oak and 12 months aged on the lees after second fermentation in the bottle): 20 grams per litre residual sugar rounds out the tannins, peppery, balanced.
• Dolce Classico (Orange, 60% Rondinella, 40% Corvina, all dried like Recioto della Valpolicella): sweet (101 grams per litre), cherries, caramel, spicy.
• Raspberry Nectar (Southern Highlands, Raspberry & Blackberry): raspberries, sweet & sour.

With lunch we drank these wines:

• Albariño Reserve 2021 (Southern Highlands, Albariño 9 months in used oak with stirring of the lees): mineral (rubber), crisp.
• Reserve Shiraz Viognier 2014 (Orange, 96% Shiraz, 4% Viognier, best vintage for this wine): earthy, complex, mature, fresh, alcohol better integrated than the 2019.

Then we drove to Canberra.

We had dinner at Rebel Rebel and enjoyed these delicious dishes:

• Sydney Rock oysters with a shallot vinaigrette
• Raw king fish with boquerones (anchovies), fennel, and blood orange
• Beef tartare with anchovy and pickles
• Fior di latte with candied walnuts, radicchio, and roasted grapes
• Fried quail with harissa
• Deep-fried cauliflower with ricotta salata, almonds, and paprika
• Grilled broccolini with bagna cauda
• French fries
• Grass fed ribeye with wakame butter and spiced demi glace
• Parfait in a pastry ‘sandwich’

This was accompanied by (not exactly paired with) a wonderful lineup of Australian wines:

• Meadowbank Blanc de Noirs 2018 (Tasmania, Pinot Noir, second fermentation in the bottle and aged on the lees for 3 years): elegant and complex
• Ossa Grüner Veltliner Belbrook 2022 (Tasmania, Grüner Veltliner, fermented in seasoned French barriques, aged in stainless steel on the lees): beautiful varietal expression
• Ravensworth Project C 2021 Reduction & Big Thick Barrels (Canberra/Murrumbateman, Chardonnay): great minerality (sulphur) and texture
• Bande Apart (Adelaide Hills, Pinot Meunier): extraordinary to taste a still and varietal Pinot Meunier, very smooth and slightly spicy
• Place of Changing Winds Between Two Mountains 2021 (Bullengarook, Pinot Noir): richer style but very nice
• Ravensworth Shiraz Viognier 2021 (Canberra, Shiraz with a bit of Viognier): elegant and complex
• Brash Higgins Frnc 2022 (McLaren Vale, Cabernet Franc): smooth and spicy